Emely aims to stay on the winning path, though the Handicap El Centauro presents a tough challenge

The daughter of Il Campione enters on the back of two consecutive stakes victories, but now faces a deep field of rivals ready to challenge her for the early lead

Emely returns to a track and distance that suit her well / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

There is growing concern regarding the lackluster quality of the racing cards recently held at the country's main tracks. This Monday, Palermo hosts another one of those dates with little to offer in terms of class, aiming for high handle while offering low purses.

The issue is far from simple; the declining level of our Thoroughbreds, combined with stagnant prize money, is creating a dangerous cocktail for the future. It is no surprise that expectations for the upcoming auction season range from poor to worse.

Under these circumstances, an 11-race card will be contested today at the corner of Avenida del Libertador and Dorrego, centered around the Handicap El Centauro. Scheduled over 1200 meters on the main dirt track for mares 5-year-olds and up, the race offers a meager 5,600,000 pesos to the winner—barely 200,000 pesos more than what Joy Melódica earned for winning this same event a year ago.

The 60-kilo top weight was assigned to Emely (Il Campione), who enters with 2 consecutive victories as her letter of introduction, a symptom of her current standout form. First, under the same conditions she faces today, she defeated Bichita de Luz (Fragotero) in the Clásico Día de la Soberanía Nacional, before traveling to La Plata to beat La Meninha (Le Blues) by 2 lengths in the Clásico República de Chile.

A confirmed frontrunner (puntera rabiosa), Emely may see her tactics compromised by the presence of Ataka (Señor Candy, 57 1/2), who also enjoys running on the engine. The chestnut mare showed improvement on the San Isidro dirt, finishing a half-length second to Guadilu (Señor Candy) in the Handicap Jerry Honor, and looks for more here.

Always dangerous is another vanguardist like Free Prize (Winning Prize, 56), who finished third against males in the Handicap Polemarch on the northern turf. Notably, showing versatility by coming from off the pace, she captured the Handicap Empeñosa a few months ago at this track, nipping the aforementioned Bichita de Luz at the wire.

Finally, attention must be paid to Rollanda (Bodemeister, 55 1/2), who was second to Mi Negra Paula (Reflecting) in the Especial Badruddin just a few days ago and seeks quick redemption.