El Epecuen Faces Stern Test in the Clásico Pablo Falero

The Son of Il Campione Looks to Cement Himself Around a Turn in High-Caliber Sprint Test

El Epecuén, a Horse of Notable Qualities / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Completing Saturday’s stakes menu at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, the spotlight will shift late in the day to the Clásico Pablo G. Falero (1200m, dirt), a tribute to the legendary Uruguayan jockey now testing his skills as a Thoroughbred trainer.

Open to horses aged four and up under weight-for-age conditions, the sprint promises an evenly matched and high-quality field, with several of the region’s top turn specialists set to clash.

Arriving on the back of two straight wins, El Epecuén (Il Campione {Chi}) will look to continue his upward trajectory in the division. His latest success came in the Handicap Servicio Veterinario at this track, where, despite shouldering 62.5 kilos, he proved too strong for the talented Despacito (Sabayón {Arg}), who reappears here seeking revenge and remains a constant threat.

The challenge will hardly stop there. Also in the lineup is El Mejor Recuerdo (Il Campione {Chi}), winner of the G1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires on May 1 and fresh off a confidence-restoring victory in Rosario’s Clásico General San Martín, this time representing trainer Daniel Cima.

Another live contender is Sonreíme (Orpen), who has been thriving over the La Plata surface and arrives off a decisive score in the Handicap Día del Veterinario.

The red-and-black silks of Stud Tinta Roja will be carried by Garufa Mask (Mask {Chi}), victorious earlier this season in the Clásico Gendarmería Nacional Argentina before chasing home Talent Hit (Hit It a Bomb) when runner-up in the Clásico Reconquista (L) at San Isidro.

Adding intrigue are El Cuquito (Il Campione {Chi}), shipping in from Córdoba after solid conditional wins, along with Freed From Desire (Holy Boss) and the ever-consistent Mr Neil (Valid Stripes).

All told, the Clásico Pablo G. Falero shapes as a thrilling showdown worthy of its namesake.