Candy Stripes Handicap Headlines a Quiet Midweek Card

Atrevido Electric and Candy and Giant Lead a Competitive Sprint Field in the Auxiliary Track on a Quiet Holiday at San Isidro

Atrevido Electric faltered the last time he raced on San Isidro’s dirt track / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

It’s baffling that the San Isidro Racecourse didn’t capitalize on the July 9 holiday to stage a top-level meeting anchored by the patriotic race — once a true festival for Argentine racing, and a G1 event — but which management has since reduced to just another race, like so many others.

Instead, the Jockey Club is going in the opposite direction: the card will be of very low technical quality, full of veteran horses with little to no prospects, only salvaged by a 3-year-old turf race and the Handicap Candy Stripes.

For horses aged five and up, over 1100 meters on the auxiliary dirt track, with a paltry 4,200,000 pesos for the winner, a blazing pace is expected. Among the top contenders are Atrevido Electric (Electricity, 61) and the mare Candy and Giant (Giant’s Pleasure, 61), who carry top weights and are real speed rockets in these contests.

Under similar conditions, Atrevido Electric recently returned to win the Handicap Zanoni by 4 lengths carrying similar weight, though he later finished fourth in Palermo’s Clásico Día de la Bandera, hampered by a blow that may have affected his performance.

Candy and Giant, meanwhile, won the Handicap Jacinto Rafael Herrera after a trip to Maroñas, Uruguay, where she contested the Gran Premio Maroñas (G3), but then disappointed in the 1400m General Las Heras (G3) and placed third in the same Día de la Bandera.

Pace will be crucial, and waiting for a strong tempo will be Maranelo (Holy Boss, 59 ½), in his second run outside the straight after a good effort in the Especial Juan A. Maciel, where he finished neck second to Príncipe Soñado(Fragotero).

Both Dom Mario (Midshipman, 57 ½) and Río Maggio (Winning Prize, 55) have notable credentials at this level and might hold back early to launch a late charge down the stretch, hoping to capitalize on rivals tiring.