Drive Joy Returns to Palermo with Dreams of Polla de Potrillos Glory

The Firmamento colt, winner of both the Chevalier and the Estrellas, aims to reaffirm his dominance in the opening leg of Argentina’s Triple Crown

Drive Joy Defeated None Other Than Amor de Contramano in the Estrellas / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

If you asked owners, racing professionals, or fans, the G1 Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos would rank in the Top 3 races everyone dreams of winning. The historic dirt mile that kicks off the Triple Crown season at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo is iconic—a true emblem of horse racing, almost a perfect distillation of the sport and the thoroughbred itself.

Getting to the front here is among the toughest challenges in the racing world—arguably the number one test of all. Combining speed with stamina, class with courage, simply isn’t for everyone. Upsets can happen—that’s racing—but it’s rare that a colt who shines in the Polla fails to leave a lasting mark.

Our Kentucky Derby, our Guineas, will see another edition this Saturday at Avenida del Libertador and Dorrego, as it has uninterrupted for over a century, aiming to crown a name that will be remembered forever.

This year, 16 hopefuls line up, though the news that Amor de Contramano (Gouverneur Morris), one of the season’s top names, will miss the race due to an injury sustained after winning the G2 Clásico Miguel Cané, is a setback.

Still, the race is far from lacking in excitement or quality. Drive Joy (Fortify) aims to consolidate his status as the generation leader, adding the strongest mark yet to a campaign that has been nothing short of remarkable.

Campaigned by Stud-Haras Firmamento, which previously won the Polla with The Great Day (Harlan’s Holiday), he first came to prominence with a victory in the G2 Clásico Chevalier on San Isidro turf. After an unexpected defeat in the G1 Gran Criterium, he bounced back to beat Amor de Contramano by 1½ lengths in the G1 Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile.

Versatile and adaptable to any pace scenario, the favorite faces a dangerous field led by Liberto (Hurricane Cat) and Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion), who finished second and third, almost neck and neck, in the Cané.

Liberto had previously taken the G3 Clásico Old Man, while Gardel Pass had triumphed in La Plata’s G2 Pedro Goenaga, defeating Winston (Forge), who would later emerge as the leader at Bosque, winning both the G3 Aramburu and the G3 Polla there.

On Estrellas Day, Nevado Catedral (Gouverneur Morris) finished third with little experience and now seeks an even stronger performance, while Es Por Amor (Strategos), runner-up in the Criterium and fresh third in the G1 Gran Premio 2000 Guineas, remains a factor.

From La Plata comes El Resero Con Capa (Angiolo), the only undefeated colt in the field. He debuted in mid-February with a win over the local straight and reprised on July 21 with an easy score in the Clásico Domingo Torterolo. Stretching out to a mile at this level, he is expected to be in the thick of the action.

Chaplin (Nicholas) followed him home in the Torterolo before stepping up impressively over 12 furlongs.

Piu (Leofric) and Sargento Morris (Gouverneur Morris) crossed the line in that order, separated by just half a length in a prep allowance for the Polla, and look capable of making an impact. Other notable entrants include Lago Nahuel Huapi (Hurricane Cat), an early-season standout at Bosque, and Full Keynote (Full Mast), from whom much is still expected.

Meanwhile, In the Island (In the Dark), Last Chance (Hurricane Cat), Llebrenc (Forge), and Tendence (Winning Prize) face a stiff challenge, but even if they fall short, their connections will never forget that they competed in the prestigious Polla de Potrillos.