Escape Room returns to La Plata in pursuit of her first stakes victory

The son of Il Campione remains undefeated since joining Marcelo Sueldo's stable and will now attempt to claim the Clásico Onesto Puente (L)

Escape Room, sporting his former colors, arrives at the Onesto Puente (L) with two consecutive victories / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

This afternoon’s session at the local racetrack will feature only 10 races, but two of them are stakes events. As previously noted, the Clásico Agustín B. Gambier (G3) and the continuation of the two-year-old selective process take center stage, but the sprinters will also have a high-stakes test in the Clásico Onesto Puente (L), scheduled over 1200 meters for 4-year-olds and up under weight-for-age conditions.

With nine confirmed runners, the team of trainer Marcelo Sueldo, jockey Gonzalo Borda, and Stud Pauli is playing a strong hand with the rising Escape Room. The son of Il Campione remains undefeated since joining the stable of the year’s winningest owner and trainer.

He returned from a layoff to win by six lengths over this same track and distance, followed by a dominant 5-length victory in a San Isidro allowance, clocking 1m22s24/100 for 1400 meters. Now shortening back to 1200 meters and returning to La Plata, his recent improvement suggests he will be a very tough competitor to beat.

A veteran of many battles, 7-year-old Vespaciano (Daniel Boone) is in excellent form and returns to stakes company after a few months. Winner of the Especial Bernabeu in February while carrying a massive weight, he comes off a runner-up finish—only a length behind Normando Lu (Lunático Emperor)—in a conditional race where he carried 62 kilos.

Another name with strong credentials is Glorioso Rim (Remote), who previously won the Handicap Haras Dilú and finished second in the Handicap Hipódromo de San Isidro, both at this track. Most recently at Palermo, he finished fourth in the Clásico Intendente Melchor Posse (L). He is expected to be right in the thick of the finish.

Slightly further back in the preferences are Arcanum (Horse Greeley), who is currently far from the level he showed as a colt when winning at this grade, and Curioso Azteca (Empire Aztec), who has dipped slightly in form recently. Finally, Redentor Scat (Knockout) will break from the outside post, looking to become the day's big revelation.