Drive Joy stands out among a high-caliber field of 13 entries set for a feature mile at Palermo

The Firmamento champion leads the field for the Grade 1 on November 14, which also features the official Polla de Potrillos (G1) winner, Linguado, alongside standout names like Hop On, Grand Canyon, Speedmaster, and Storm Sound. It is a race that promises to deliver a grand finale to the Gran Premio Nacional (G1) festival

Drive Joy (Fortify), currently one of the premier stars of Argentine racing, headlines a compelling field of 13 entries for the Gran Premio Palermo (G1-1600m, dirt), to be run on Saturday, November 14 at Hipódromo Palermo as part of a blockbuster card anchored by the Gran Premio Nacional (G1) and the Gran Premio Maipú (G1).

The Firmamento homebred champion will serve as the headline attraction in a feature that, while drawing fewer runners than its two top-flight companions, offers a fascinating mix of established stars, battle-tested veterans, and 3-year-olds stepping up to tackle older horses for the first time.

Drive Joy’s track record is simply formidable. Conditioned by Carlos Daniel Etchechoury, the son of Fortify and Zip Drive (Cityscape) boasts 6 wins, 2 seconds, a third, and 2 fourths from 11 starts, having never finished off the board.Furthermore, 5 of his victories have come in stakes company, including two at the highest level.

His initial top-flight triumph came as a 2-year-old in the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (G1) over the Palermo mile.He was later runner-up behind Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion) in the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1) and, in 2026, delivered one of his finest performances by capturing the Gran Premio de las Américas - OSAF (G1), defeating Escape Room (Equal Stripes) by 1 1/2 lengths.

His campaign continued to gain momentum in the second half of the year. After finishing fourth in the Gran Premio Estrellas Mile (G1) on the San Isidro turf, he returned to the main track to land the Clásico Perú (G2-1800m), edging Hop On (Endorsement) by a nose. In his most recent outing, he stretched out to 2,000 meters to win the Clásico Italia (G3) by 3 lengths over Don Machete (Mootasadir).

Now stepping back down to the distance where he earned his two top-flight triumphs—and on a track where he has won 4 of his 5 outings—the Firmamento runner, with regular partner Martín Valle in the irons, will look to reaffirm his position as the premier older miler in the country.

An added element of intrigue is the presence of Linguado (Cosmic Trigger), the official winner of the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1) following the disqualification of Fletcher (Gershwin) due to a positive clenbuterol test.

The representative of Stud 11 de Noviembre, trained by Edgardo Martucci, had crossed the wire second, 6 lengths behind the original winner, before being promoted to first by regulatory decision. Prior to that, he was runner-up to Fletcher in the Clásico Miguel Cané (G2), proving his ability to compete against the elite of his generation.

His latest performance was well below expectations, as he finished eleventh in the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1)over 2,000 meters on the San Isidro turf. A return to the dirt and the 1,600-meter trip could spark a rebound to his best form, though he now faces the sternest test of his career against older, proven horses.

Another 3-year-old in the lineup is El Volka (Vekoma), who also featured in the Polla, crossing the wire third and being promoted to second following Fletcher’s disqualification. Conditioned by Marcelo Sueldo for Stud Pauli, he faces an exacting assignment to prove his continued development.

Among the older contingent, Hop On stands out as a threat deserving serious consideration. The Endorsement colt,racing for Stud Quilmes, has compiled 9 wins from 28 starts and came within a nose of defeating Drive Joy in the Clásico Perú. Though he finished fifth behind the same rival in the Italia, dropping back to the mile suits him well, as it is the distance where he has delivered some of his strongest career efforts.

Grand Canyon (Long Island Sound) also enters with genuine claims. The representative of Haras El Ángel de Venecia comes off a victory in the Clásico New Dandy over the Palermo turf mile and holds 5 wins from 12 starts.His fifth-place finish in the Estrellas Mile and consistent overall campaign keep him among the major players, though he must prove he can carry that class onto the dirt against top-tier opposition.

Speedmaster (Fortify), the imposing defender of Stud Victoria, is another contender sure to make his presence felt.He finished third to Drive Joy and Hop On in the Perú, beaten just 2 lengths, and carries enough big-race experience to remain dangerous.

Storm Sound (Hi Happy) brings a long and distinguished record into the contest. The Omar Labanca trainee boasts 10 wins—4 of them in stakes company—and previously faced Drive Joy in the Gran Premio de las Américas, where he finished seventh. At 6 years old, he seeks to rediscover his top form in a race that affords him another chance at Grade 1 glory.

Also prominent is Zaatar (Hurricane Cat) of Las Monjitas, winner of 5 of his 9 starts and coming off a runner-up effort to Approval Cat in the Handicap Manganga. The Carlos Daniel Etchechoury pupil—sharing a barn with Drive Joy and Grand Canyon—looks to make the step up from handicaps into top-flight company.

Benvolio (King Guillermo), Charir (Il Mercato), Majority Wins (Master of Hounds), Negro de Pergamino (Hi Happy), and Roberts Orpen (Emotion Orpen) complete the field. The latter, representing Stud Don Chiche, enters with two wins from just three career starts and stands out as a promising up-and-comer. Benvolio also holds two wins from three starts and will be making his stakes debut against older horses.

In terms of prize money, the Gran Premio Palermo will offer a total purse of $127,800,000 ARS, with $60,000,000 ARS set aside for the winner—a purse worthy of one of the marquee middle-distance events on the Argentine calendar.

With Drive Joy seeking to add another Grade 1 trophy to his stellar record, Linguado looking to validate his classic credentials, and a deep group of rivals eager to disrupt the favorite, the Palermo mile has all the ingredients of a classic showcase for Saturday, November 14.