Dulce Despertar and Gran Mirella Step Out Again in the U.S.

The Argentine-bred mares are set to contest a pair of allowance races next Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis; Dulce Despertar will switch from dirt to turf for the occasion

Gran Mirella Looks for Redemption in Her Second U.S. Start / HLP

SHELBYVILLE, Indiana (Special for Turf Diario).- Two of Argentina’s talented mares are set to return to action next Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis, a demanding secondary circuit just outside Kentucky’s major tracks.

Dulce Despertar (Fortify) and Gran Mirella (Dabster) are the names to follow. The former will switch from dirt to turf in a bid to bounce back as she headlines race eight, a US$46,240 allowance over a mile (1609 meters).

Gran Mirella, meanwhile, lines up in race five, an allowance optional claiming with a US$50,000 tag and a purse of US$49,680, going 1 1/16 miles (about 1673 meters).

After a pair of uninspiring dirt performances, trainer Ignacio Correas IV will aim to get Dulce Despertar back on track with the surface change. Drawn on the rail, she’ll carry a near-top weight of 122 pounds with Brazilian rider Luan Machado in the irons. Thirteen fillies and mares are entered, though one will only start if the race is moved to the main track, and two more are on the also-eligible list.

Racing for Stud-Haras Vacación (campaigning as Sonia LLC in the U.S.), the chestnut filly was a multiple graded stakes winner last year in Argentina, taking the G3 Crespo, G2 Raúl Aristegui, and G2 General Luis María Campos, while finishing second in both the G1 Polla de Potrancas and G1 Jorge de Atucha, establishing a striking level of consistency.

Gran Mirella makes just her second U.S. start after a promising debut a few weeks ago. Now trained by Riley Mott for Japanese owner Koji Maeda, the 2024 G1 Gran Premio Selección de Potrancas winner at La Plata breaks from post one and will face a compact but competitive field of five rivals.

The daughter of G1 winner Inca Noble (Ride the Rails) will have Jaime Torres aboard, who guided Seize the Grey(Arrogate) to Preakness (G1) glory last year. Connections will be hoping for a fast track after her previous run came on a sloppy surface.

Both Dulce Despertar and Gran Mirella are looking to make a strong statement this time around.