Drive Joy returns to the fray in the América, and Orpen Rimout goes for the Paseana

On the heavy turf at San Isidro, the colt returns after more than 6 months, while the mare makes the leap to 1,800 meters; the allowance races, nearly all moved to the dirt

Drive Joy won the Chevalier on the San Isidro turf / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Saturday with racing at San Isidro Racecourse. And with the good kind of racing. Featuring a majority of promising allowance races, the Clásico América (G2-1600m, turf) and Clásico Paseana (G2-1800m, turf) will provide even more prestige, with the great shame that activity will take place mostly on the inner dirt track, given the rainfall overnight and the forecast for more throughout the day.

The season is taking shape, picking up heat even as summer ends today. In the first of those stakes—the final one to be decided in the graded doubleheader—there are several reasons to expect a high-flying spectacle.

On one hand, there is the return to the tracks of Drive Joy (Fortify) —his presence is confirmed for the moment— one of the top 2 and 3-year-olds of 2025. The winner of the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (G1) and the Clásico Raúl y Raúl E. Chevalier (G2) was sidelined after narrowly falling to Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion) in the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1).

The chestnut from Firmamento has talent to spare, but faces the tough task of overcoming a long layoff on a track that will be far from friendly, given the muddy conditions.

Waiting for him in the gates is Earth God (Cosmic Trigger), a four-time G1 winner who underperformed a few weeks ago in the Clásico Horacio Bustillo (G2), finishing third, 4 lengths behind Colifato Novo (Lenovo) and also trailing Qué Tarde Gris (Il Campione), another dangerous contender present here.

But there are more potential problems on the horizon for Drive Joy. It will be quite attractive to see El Fortín (Il Campione) make the jump to the mile; the hero of December's Gran Premio Félix de Alzaga Unzué (G1) is coming off a loss to Sargento Morris (Gouverneur Morris) in the Clásico Haras Ojo de Agua (L) in late January over 1,400 meters. Now more seasoned at the distance, it remains to be seen if the Stud San José de Ecuador representative can deliver the same explosion he showed in sprints.

Contributing to the quality of the field, the veteran Don Latido (John F. Kennedy) and the multiple group winner Sabiyano (Fortify) will add their share, alongside Viejo Varieté (Qué Vida Buena), who seeks to regain his confidence.

A while earlier, the mares will cross paths in the Paseana, where they will begin to show their hands toward the Gran Premio Estrellas Distaff (G1), which will be held under the same circumstances in 2026. With nine confirmed runners, the affair looks quite balanced, without one name standing out too much, but with several claiming to be candidates.

A nice challenge awaits Orpen Rimout (Remote), stepping up to 1,800 meters in high spirits after her victories in the Clásico Carlos Tomkinson (G2) and Clásico Omnium (L). The only time she went beyond the mile, she failed in the 2025 Criadores (G1) on the dirt, but she now looks more mature and the turf might lend her a hand, though it will be tough.

The closing charge of Dream Serena (Forge) also seeks to go further, while the bay from Quereuquén goes through an extremely positive phase. Winner of the Clásico Melgarejo (L), she subsequently finished third in the Omnium (L) and second in the Fernández Guerrico (G2), the latter falling by just half a head to the filly Lessons of Life (Le Blues).

End of Spring (Il Campione) is another name demanding space in the division. With two wins in her last three outings, she returns to graded territory after a long time, and the timing is right.

My Pride (Daddy Long Legs) returned by beating Embrace It (Daddy Long Legs) in an allowance race, and now both step up in level aiming for an upset, while Soñadora Pícara (Suggestive Boy) remains, attempting to extend the winning streak for Carampangue...