El Éxito returns to the turf to extend the boundaries of his dominance

He stands out clearly in the Clásico Ecuador (G2) preview; in the Clásico Sibila (G2), Obra Clásica returns to conditions in which she has been flawless to date

El Éxito in one of his victories over the San Isidro turf / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Everything changes when a card features quality. That will certainly be the case this afternoon at San Isidro, serving as the perfect prelude to the start of Argentina’s Triple Crown this Saturday with the Pollas de Palermo.

A mostly unmissable slate awaits at the Jockey Club Argentino, highlighted by four stakes that serve as key prep races for next month’s Gran Premio San Isidro (G1) and Gran Premio Suipacha (G1).

Looking toward the first of those features, the Clásico Ecuador (G2) and Clásico Sibila (G2) will be contested, while the speed division will tackle the Clásico Cyllene (G2) and Clásico Condesa (G3)—both covered separately in this edition.

The main attraction is the Ecuador, where El Éxito, the division leader on the Palermo dirt, will try to extend his dominance to the San Isidro turf—a surface where he has posted solid results but is admittedly more vulnerable than on his home track. Of his seven career defeats, six came on this very course, though he did capture the Clásicos Urbano de Iriondo (L) and Haras Ojo de Agua (L) here. At Palermo, he lost only on debut and subsequently reeled off five straight wins, including the Clásicos Good Manners, El Virtuoso (G2), Benito Villanueva (G2), and the Grandes Premios de las Américas - OSAF (G1) and Estrellas Mile (G1). A physical issue kept him out of the Perú (G2), but he now returns fully recovered to face a competitive field.

His main threat appears to be Kopke (Hi Happy), representing Las Monjitas. Highly regarded for some time, Kopke seems back on track after finishing seventh in both of his only graded tries and most recently taking an allowance in somewhat tight fashion.

El Éxito must also contend with the G1-winning pair of Folie Ninja (Hat Ninja) and Comando Secreto (War Command) for trainers Walter Suárez and María F. Alvarez. Talented Hit (Hit It a Bomb) and What a Man (Mastercraftsman) line up for Haras El Ángel de Venecia; Firmamento is represented by Adorado Rim (Remote); Descamisado (Cosmic Trigger) could spring a surprise; and Concord (Remote) has been struggling, though a front-running finish would not shock anyone.

Earlier on the card, the Sibila features fillies four years and older, with Obra Clásica (Suggestive Boy) returning to a distance and surface in which she has been flawless, following two defeats at longer trips. Winner of the Clásicos Juárez Celman (G2) and Fernández Guerrico (G2), she faces stiff competition from Elvitas (Cosmic Trigger) and Fiesta Porteña (Fortify), who finished 1-2, separated by 1 1/2 lengths, in the Clásico Eudoro J. Balsa (G3). Same Treasure (Treasure Beach), third in that race, also lines up.

Also in the mix is Noche Alta (Hi Happy), a multiple graded winner at this trip returning to top form after a close second by two lengths to Escolastic Girl (Suggestive Boy) in the Clásico Ricardo P. Sauze (G3) in Buenos Aires. Lost Beach (Treasure Beach) steps up after chasing Pecadora Joy (Fortify) in the Handicap Cipayo, while Lancara (Manipulator) arrives off conditional victories, rounding out a highly competitive division.

A spectacular afternoon awaits at San Isidro, one of those cards to savor, anticipate, and talk about long after the last race.