Atomic Trigger Faces a Tough Test, But Stakes Company Could Be Next If He Delivers

The Son of Cosmic Trigger Will Carry Top Weight of 60 Kilos in the 1800-Meter Handicap Druid

Atomic Trigger Looks for His Fourth Straight Victory / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

A strong field will line up Wednesday at San Isidro for the Handicap Druid, the day’s feature race, offering 6,750,000 pesos to the winner over 1800 meters on the main dirt track.

Few horses arrive in better form than Atomic Trigger, whose current streak has him on the brink of returning to stakes company. Trained by Elvio Bortulé, the son of Cosmic Trigger carries top weight of 60 kilos as he shoots for his fourth straight victory.

His streak began in a conditional event before scoring in the Handicap Potrillazo over 1400 meters at Palermo, and then again in the Handicap Egg Toss, under similar conditions to those he’ll face now, defeating Tamarisco Cat (Southern Cat) by 1 1/2 lengths.

The task will be tougher this time, both in weight and opposition. Among his main rivals is Titanic Blade (Daniel Boone, 54.5 kg), winner of three of his last four starts, to whom Atomic Trigger concedes several kilos. The Las Monjitas runner returns after more than three months away, having last edged Don Tigre (Cityscape), a group-placed performer, in a tight finish at allowance level.

Now trained by Daniel Cima for Stud Independencia, Safety Honour (Safety Check, 59.5) also comes back to the major tracks after an off-form run over a longer trip in Córdoba. Before that, he had gone wire to wire in the Clásico Gobernador de la Provincia in Rosario.

Señor Dan (Señor Candy, 58.5) adds further intrigue, with strong recent runs at La Plata, including a victory in the Clásico Jockey Club de Mendoza, a runner-up effort in the Clásico About Today, and a third in the Especial Haras Don Arcángel.

Others capable of springing a surprise include Chanclette (Super Saver, 54) and Sofware (Treasure Beach, 58), both with solid upper-level credentials, while Yankiray (Hi Happy) will run light in the weights after posting his second career win.