Emergent Targets the Handicap Silfo and a Couple of Feature Races to Highlight Thursday’s Card at Palermo

The son of Il Campione faces Black Stripes in the feature, while runners from the provinces return to action once again

Emergent Winning at San Isidro, a Scene He Looks to Repeat at Palermo Today / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

An unusual Thursday afternoon awaits at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, with a total of 11 races on the card, three of which exceed allowance level. The highlight comes with 1400 meters of the Handicap Silfo, supported by two feature events for horses with provincial racing experience: the Che Mandrake and the Froom.

The feature, for winners aged four and up, lists Emergent (Il Campione, 55.5 kg) as the clear top choice. From the start, he will aim to showcase his current form, which most recently saw him finish a length behind Atomic Trigger (Cosmic Trigger) in the Handicap Potrillazo, under the same conditions he faces now.

Trained by Miguel Cafere, Emergent will meet a major threat in Black Stripes (Equal Stripes, 56 kg). After a series of gradual efforts and a couple of underwhelming performances, the horse dropped a notch in class to improve and finish second to Garufa Mask (Mask) in the Clásico Gendarmería Nacional Argentina over the dirt at San Isidro. Inactive since mid-July, he is expected to make his presence felt.

Other secondary contenders include Arcanum (Horse Greeley, 54 kg), a stakes winner whose form has dipped recently; Buen Curuzucuateño (Buen Verso, 55.5 kg), runner-up to Es Aristocrático (Angiolo) in the Especial Frío Wells del Bosque; and El Despertar (Il Campione, 57 kg), also a stakes winner but currently not at his best.

Over 1000 meters for three-year-olds, the Che Mandrake features Rey de la Calle (Che Micky), who remains unbeaten in official starts. He captured one division of the Especial Encuentro Provincial Invierno before following up with victory in the Especial Ill Diabolo.

Meanwhile, in the Especial Froom, contested over 1400 meters, the two-year-olds Neón Boy (Cosmic Trigger) and Impregnado Sr (Señor Candy) challenge the seasoned Eccentric (Il Campione).