Candy and Giant and his speed take on the tough Farika in the Handicap Jacinto Rafael Herrera

An intriguing second stakes feature this Thursday at the center, set for 1200 meters on dirt

Candy and Giant, a mare with outstanding performances in one-turn sprints / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

It’s impossible to forget the breathtaking late runs that came from the magic and talent of Jacinto Rafael Herrera, the formidable Peruvian jockey discovered by Hernán Ceriani Cernadas. This Thursday, Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo will pay tribute to him with a handicap race bearing his name, the second stakes feature of the day.

Set over 1200 meters on dirt for 5-year-old and up winners, the race has drawn 13 contenders, led by the return of the outstanding Candy and Giant, a nearly unbeatable force at this distance when at her best.

The Giant’s Pleasure daughter has not raced since a subpar effort in the Gran Premio Maroñas (G2) on January 6 at Maroñas, Uruguay. She will carry the top weight of 61 kilograms, but her record speaks for itself, with an extensive list of high-profile victories that make her the one to beat.

If the favorite falters, Farika (Bodemeister, 59 1/2 kg) will be ready to step up. The Rubio B. colorbearer has made just seven career starts, winning five and finishing second in the other two. A winner of the Handicap Brilliantly and Handicap Star and Stripes, she was last seen finishing runner-up in the mile-long Clásico Carlos Tomkinson (G2) in mid-November and will now look to shake off the layoff in style.

Though approaching age seven, Crhys Kissing (South Kissing, 57 kg) remains as tough as ever, especially when the race unfolds at a strong pace—something that seems likely here. A multiple stakes winner at this level, she is never one to be taken lightly.

On this track, Caoimhe (Cosmic Trigger, 52 1/2 kg) will benefit from a significant weight break compared to her main rivals as she looks to rebound from a fifth-place finish in the Handicap Ante Diem, where she underperformed.

Also not to be overlooked is Life Starts Now (Qué Vida Buena, 54 1/2 kg), who comes off a strong second-place effort in the Clásico Jamelao (L), finishing four lengths behind Pecadora Joy (Fortify) over 1400 meters on Palermo’s dirt course.