El Nacional to Feature 13 Starters; Labrado Withdraws from the Maipú

The Argentine Derby to Headline a Stellar Saturday Program at Palermo

Undefeated Butterging Returns in the Gran Premio Nacional / HAPSA

With the lone defection of Estoy Llamando (Il Campione), a field of thirteen colts will line up Saturday at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo to chase glory in the G1 Gran Premio Nacional (2500 meters, dirt), the final leg of Argentina’s Triple Crown—which, as has been the case since 1996, will again go without a sweep.

Among the leading contenders on paper are Blue Caviar (Equal Stripes), winner of the G3 Coronel Miguel F. Martínez and the G2 Eduardo Casey; Winston (Forge), hero of La Plata’s G3 Polla de Potrillos; the undefeated Butterfing(Angiolo), impressive debut winner of the Especial Julio F. Penna; Gordianus (Señor Candy), runner-up in the Casey; and Nassau (Forge), who finished second in the G3 Clásico Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. They will be joined by Herald News (Equal Stripes), Hi Dolfi (Hi Happy), In the Island (In the Dark), Jazzy Frank (Gidu), Mosto Malbec (Mosto), Peter Tosh (Fortify), The Guantecito (Treasure Beach), and Uncle Moi (Uncle Mo).

The Argentine Derby will be the centerpiece of a star-studded card that also includes the G1 Palermo (1600 meters, dirt, AR$47,000,000 to the winner) and the G1 Maipú (1000 meters, dirt, AR$32,000,000 to the winner).

In the Palermo, a dozen runners are entered, led by El Exito (Il Campione), who returns to the track where he dominated earlier in the year. His opposition includes Che Vivi (Manipulator), Comando Secreto (War Command), Coro de Rojas(Daddy Long Legs), Descamisado (Cosmic Trigger), Earth God (Cosmic Trigger), Emergent (Il Campione), Kopke (Hi Happy), Liberto (Hurricane Cat), Picasso (Lucullan), and Ronda de Ases (Forge).

The Maipú, however, suffered a key loss with the withdrawal of three-time champion Labrado (Le Blues), who had loomed as the heavy favorite following his recent G1 Suipacha victory at San Isidro.

In his absence, Le Cornette (Emmanuel) and Bailarín de Venecia (Angiolo) now stand out as main threats among a competitive cast that also features Antiguo Secreto (Angiolo), Cerrito Piñón (Manipulator), El Epecuén (Il Campione), El Fruto (Il Campione), El Madrugador (Il Campione), Go Clari Go (Strategos), La Asturiana Blue (Le Blues), Land of Promise (Le Blues), Lyon (Lenovo), Naranccello (Le Blues), Oro Azteca (Empire Aztec), Ruler Man (Manipulator), and Santo Federal (Santillano).

Post times for the program will be announced later today.