El Patio Carries Plenty of Weight, But His Form Speaks for Itself

The son of Il Campione will shoulder 60 kilos in Monday’s Handicap Sideral at Palermo

El Patio Returns to Palermo Looking to Get Back to His Winning Ways / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The Monday card at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo will run from 14:20 to 19:20, featuring 11 races, with the Handicap Sideral standing out as the day’s main attraction. The 1200-meter dirt sprint is open to 4-year-olds and up and offers ARS 7,000,000 to the winner.

Only six runners are confirmed, with El Patio set to shoulder a demanding 60 kilos, conceding significant weight to all his rivals. The son of Il Campione arrives off back-to-back runner-up finishes at La Plata—first closing to within a length of Che Vivi (Manipulator) in the Especial Haras Don Arcángel, and then finishing three lengths behind Silencio Dramático (Grand Reward) in the Handicap Haras La Biznaga.

Among his challengers is Bienhechor (Hurricane Cat, 55kg), who after posting consecutive victories on this track, returned with a strong fourth—just half a length behind Flying to the Sky (Señor Candy)—in the Handicap APHARAover a heavy surface.

Adding intrigue is Ask for Wild (Angiolo, 51kg), who runs at feather weight and comes into this with confidence following a runaway 10-length victory in an alternative condition race at the Independencia de Rosario meeting. He stretches out from 1000 meters and aims to take a big step forward.

Veteran In a Flash (Endorsement, 52kg), now nine years old, has not reproduced his best form in quite some time—but remains a name to respect on his day. Meanwhile, Ridge Prince (Strategic Prince, 52kg) checks in with a solid third, just three lengths behind Es Aristocrático (Angiolo), in the Especial Flag Nine at La Plata.

A compact but competitive edition, with El Patio attempting to reassert himself despite the imposing impost.