Drive Joy Upsets the Crowd Favorite, Igniting the Battle for Champion 2-Year-Old Honors

With a Strategic Ride and Late Courage, the Firmamento Runner Scores Impressively Over an Off-Form Amor de Contramano

Martín Valle Sweeps Both Juvenile Races at Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

If there was one name considered nearly unbeatable heading into the nine-race Estrellas card, it was Amor de Contramano, the brilliant grey who had looked otherworldly when capturing the G1 Gran Premio Montevideo and was seeking coronation in Saturday’s G1 Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (1600m, dirt, ARS 40,000,000 to the winner).

But this time, the star colt couldn’t reproduce that dazzling form, falling decisively to Drive Joy, Firmamento’s talented chestnut who had already shown top-class ability on San Isidro’s turf and proved here that his quality translates just as powerfully to Palermo’s dirt.

Ridden by the red-hot Martín Valle, the afternoon’s standout jockey, Drive Joy (Fortify) refused to yield, wearing down a rival who gave his all to cling to the lead.

Drive Joy was coming off an uncharacteristic third in the G1 Gran Criterium, where he had raced too far off the pace. As for Amor de Contramano, questions lingered pre-race: how much would those missed training days a few weeks back—due to a bout of colic that required precautionary clinic care—affect him? No excuses, but certainly a caveat.

Unconcerned with his rival’s setbacks, Drive Joy executed perfectly, never allowing the heavy favorite (sent off at 1.30) to settle into his rhythm. Pressing him early in the stretch, Drive Joy gradually gained the upper hand despite Amor de Contramano’s tremendous courage in trying to repel the challenge.

At the wire, Drive Joy was 1 1/2 lengths clear, stopping the clock in a sharp 1:35.70—noticeably faster than the 1:36.92 posted by Charm (Strategos) in the G1 Juvenile Fillies earlier on the card.

Another four lengths back came Nevado Catedral (Gouverneur Morris), making a highly promising stakes debut to finish third, with the remainder of the field well strung out and never factoring.

The win marked trainer Carlos D. Etchechoury’s fourth Estrellas Juvenile triumph, having previously scored with Mach Glory (Honour and Glory, 2007), San Livinus (Mutakddim, 2009), and Ivar (Brz-Agnes Gold, 2019).

Out of Zip Drive (City Zip), Drive Joy now supplants Amor de Contramano as the leading contender for Champion 2-Year-Old honors. Their rematch will be eagerly awaited.