Drive Joy and Earth God Set to Clash in the Clásico Perú

Lead the list of 10 entries for next week's top race at Palermo, set to take place on Monday the 27th.

Drive Joy won 2 G1's at Palermo's dirt / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Hipódromo Palermo has begun assembling its upcoming three racecards, scheduled for Friday the 24th, Monday the 27th, and Thursday the 30th of this month. The headline event will arrive on the second day when a new edition of the Clásico Perú (G2-1800m, dirt) takes center stage—one of the premier second-half contests for older middle-distance horses.

A total of 10 runners were entered, a group highlighted by champions Drive Joy (Fortify), top 2-year-old colt of 2025, and Earth God (Cosmic Trigger), last season's standout miler.

Both enter off performances in the Gran Premio Estrellas Mile (G1) on the turf at Hipódromo de San Isidro, where they finished fourth and third, respectively, making a return to the winner's circle their primary goal.

Joining them in the potential lineup are Aroma Rim (Remote), Hop On (Endorsement), Majority Wins (Master of Hounds), Nevado Catedral (Gouverneur Morris), Private Blend (Lucullan), Speedmaster (Fortify), Tryman (Safety Check), and Western Orpen (Orpen). Open to horses 4 years old and up, the feature carries a winner's purse of 16,600,000 pesos.

On Friday, top honors will belong to the Handicap Juan Bautista Udaondo (1200m, dirt), open to 5-year-olds and up, winners, which attracted an extensive entry list of 29 horses. The high weight assignment of 61 kilos was handed to Rugiente (Il Campione), while Despacito (Sabayón) and Hit Rouge (Hit It a Bomb) were weighted at 59 1/2 kilos.

The week at Palermo will draw to a close on Thursday the 30th with the Handicap Bernardo A., Adolfo P. y Aníbal J. Giovanetti, restricted to mares 4 years old and up over 1400 meters on the dirt main track.

A field of 16 potential runners was nominated, with topweight honors shared by Bichita de Luz (Fragotero), Filippiada(Il Mercato), and Reina Secreta (Víctor Security), all assigned 59 kilos.

Final declarations and jockey bookings will be accepted until noon on Tuesday, as usual.