Crazy Talent and Epityrum set for rematch in Chacabuco Stakes

The G2 over 2400 meters on the Argentinos's turf will serve as the first leg of the Campeonato de Oro Verde, setting up a rematch between two proven stayers

Crazy Talent, a model of consistency / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Just one week after hosting the Estrellas festival, Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo once again takes center stage in the country’s weekend racing scene, offering a superb Saturday card featuring an attractive trio of stakes races alongside a series of intriguing conditionals.

The colts will begin their second-semester classic process in the Clásico Old Man (G3), while the fillies will do the same in the Manuel J. Güiraldes (G3) – both covered separately in this edition. Before those, however, the 2400-meter turf Clásico Chacabuco (G2) will kick off the Campeonato de Oro Verde’s 2025 edition.

With eight confirmed runners, the race sets up a rematch between Epityrum (Portal del Alto) and Crazy Talent (Equal Talent), both prominent stayers and leading figures in this division for quite some time.

Twelve months ago, Epityrum defeated Crazy Talent, finishing first with Ronda de Ases (Forge) splitting them in second, five lengths separating the top three. However, over the remainder of the season, Crazy Talent emerged with far stronger form, proving himself with excellent results, while Epityrum remained somewhat more irregular.

Crazy Talent went on to defeat none other than El Kodigo (Equal Stripes) in the Clásico Comparación (G2), then was runner-up in the San Martín (G1) and Dardo Rocha (G1), and finished fourth in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1). Continuing that consistency into 2025, he was third in the Martínez de Hoz (G1), captured the Clásico Otoño (G2), and then finished second to Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja) – who subsequently won the Estrellas Classic (G1) – in the República Argentina (G1).

A true model of consistency, he is the top candidate here to add another stakes victory, thanks to his remarkable versatility over varying distances, surfaces, and race setups.

Epityrum, a former 2000 Guineas (G1) winner at three, remains a horse of immense heart. His recent sixth in the Porteño (G3) was below his best, but prior to that, on this same Palermo turf, he scored in the Clásico Expressive Halo (L).

Another contender is the improving The Gladiator's Hat (Hat Ninja), who faces the toughest assignment of his career so far. Trained by Carlos D. Etchechoury, he comes off a front-running victory in the Handicap Jorge H. Iglesias at San Isidro on dirt. Employing similar tactics here seems likely, although adapting to the Palermo turf, notoriously demanding for newcomers, remains a question mark.

Etchechoury also saddles Saphirus Blue (Daniel Boone) for Stud Haras El Angel de Venecia, a recent winner of the Premio Club Atlético Platense – Campeón Apertura 2025, now testing himself in deeper waters with hopes of an encouraging run.

Halteres (Hat Ninja) and El Estanciero (Fire Slam) step up from conditional wins, dreaming of making a mark against this stronger lineup.

Meanwhile, Motor de Mar (Treasure Beach) and Gadzooks (Galán de Cine) appear a notch below the principals, aiming for a share of the purse rather than realistic victory claims.

It promises to be an outstanding day of racing at Palermo, following the high-quality (though stakes-less) Friday card at San Isidro. A day to watch closely, with classic pathways and major divisions in the spotlight.