El Emporio Sets His Sights on the Ever-Demanding 2500 Meters of the Clásico Ayacucho

The in-form son of Il Campione will take on a deep field at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, squaring off against the likes of Endor Rye, Don Champagne, Davalos, Billion and Soñador Spring

El Emporio is riding a three-race stakes winning streak at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo will stage its final graded race of the season this Saturday as part of a compact 10-race card that, overall, offers limited depth. The exception is the traditional Clásico Ayacucho (G3), a true proving ground for stayers whose demanding 2500 meters have withstood both time and modern trends—stoic, uncompromising, and almost always capable of delivering a compelling spectacle.

The 2025 renewal is particularly intriguing. While only six runners have been confirmed, the group brings genuine substance to the division, with solid credentials and form lines that add real interest to the contest.

At the center of attention is El Emporio, whose outstanding current form makes him the one to beat after being scratched from the Clausura (G2) at La Plata, for which he had also been entered. The son of Il Campione has been nothing short of dominant of late, riding a four-race winning streak over the Palermo dirt—all of them in stakes company.

That run began over 1800 meters in the Carlos Gardel (L), continued at two kilometers in the Irineo Leguisamo (L), and culminated in a successful stretch to 2500 meters, where he captured the Clásico Mineral (L) by 1 1/2 lengths. Typically prominent throughout, El Emporio tends to get serious early in the stretch, displaying a notable capacity to carry his speed over extended distances.

He will not, however, have things his own way. Chief among the opposition is Endor Rye (Endorsement), who has enjoyed a consistently strong campaign and figured in many of the season’s most demanding contests from 2000 meters upward. His résumé includes runner-up finishes in the Clásico Otoño (G2), the Gran Premio Estrellas Classic (G1) and the Clásico Vicente L. Casares (G3), as well as third-place efforts in both the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha (G1) and the Gran Premio República Argentina (G1).

Trained by Marcelo Degregorio, Endor Rye brings an added wrinkle: he is the defending champion, having landed the 2024 edition of the Ayacucho before adding the Clásico Haras Argentinos (L). Beating him will require a serious effort.

A strong hand is also played by Carlos D. Etchechoury and the San Benito team with the veteran Don Champagne(Long Island Sound), who has been performing at a high level at La Plata. He captured the Clásico OSAF (G3) there, then chased home The Gladiator’s Hat (Hat Ninja) in the Dardo Rocha—a line that gained further strength when that rival later finished second to Brazilian star Obataye (Courtier) in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1). A big, grinding type who must be pushed along, Don Champagne will be rolling late with serious intent.

Over this surface, Davalos (Hi Happy) produced a notable upset in the Clásico Italia (G3). He later shipped to La Plata, finishing third behind Don Champagne in the OSAF before failing to fire in the Rocha. His return to Palermo sparks interest, though there is a lingering sense that trips beyond 2000 meters may blunt his effectiveness.

Nor can Billion (Galicado) be overlooked. Winner of this race in 2023, he arrives off a victory in the Clásico Jockey Club del Paraguay at La Plata, reaffirming his relevance after bypassing a Nov. 19 engagement.

Rounding out the field is the ever-game Soñador Spring (Greenspring), a hardened campaigner who knows exactly what is required in this kind of contest and against rivals of this caliber.

Sparse in numbers but rich in narrative, the Ayacucho once again shapes as a fitting, old-school examination of stamina—an enduring test to close Palermo’s graded season.