Dulce Despertar Set for U.S. Debut Friday

The Argentine filly, one of the standouts of her generation in 2024, is entered in a tough allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs

Dulce Despertar captured three stakes races during the 2024 season in Argentina / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- Argentine standout Dulce Despertar, one of the top fillies from her country’s 2024 classic generation, is set to make her U.S. debut this Friday at Churchill Downs in Race 8, an $80,000 allowance optional claiming event going 7 1/2 furlongs on the main track, with a total purse of $134,000.

The daughter of Fortify, bred by Día Feliz and now racing for Sonia LLC, the operation of former soccer star Pablo Zabaleta, will break from post 5 in a field of nine. She will be ridden by Vincent Cheminaud and is under the care of fellow Argentine Ignacio Correas IV.

“She’s done everything right and she’s ready,” Correas said. “We’ll see how she handles the surface—there are a couple of tough fillies in here. Just a few days ago, Ayra Stark (Cosmic Trigger) didn’t enjoy the kickback in her first U.S. start, and debuts here are never easy.”

A multiple Group winner in her native country, Dulce Despertar owns 4 wins from 7 starts, including victories in the G2 Clásico Raúl Aristegui, G2 Clásico General Luis María Campos, and G3 Clásico Pedro E. y Manuel A. Crespo, where she defeated males. She also placed in three Group 1 events: second in both the G1 Polla de Potrancas and the G1 Jorge de Atucha, and third in the G1 Gran Premio Selección in her Argentine finale.

Her recent U.S. workouts suggest she has adapted well to her new surroundings, including a solid six-furlong move in 1:15.20 and a sharp half-mile breeze in :47.80.

Morning-line favoritism goes to Tripolina (Constitution), who exits a runner-up finish in the Roxelana Stakes (L) and previously placed in the G3 Mazarine Stakes and G3 Bessarabian Stakes while racing in Canada.

Normandy Queen (Omaha Beach), who draws the 2 hole, brings strong allowance credentials, while Marmalade Skye (Danza) looms a danger off back-to-back wins over the Churchill surface.

Rounding out the lineup are Secret Statement (Runhappy), Bourbon Breeze (Omaha Beach), Gila (Mohaymen), Zadorsky (Tapiture), and Catmint (Kitten’s Joy).

It’s showtime in the U.S. for Dulce Despertar, a classy Argentine import with plenty of upside and high hopes of adding to her nation’s growing success story on American soil.