Faramond and Maylena seek the spotlight as they target Monday’s feature handicaps

he progressive colt looks to sustain his excellent current form as he steps up in the Clásico Picapleitos, while the ultra-consistent mare faces a tall order against a deep field in the Clásico Haras Chapadmalal

Faramond was second to Blue Caviar in the Clásico Malvinas Argentinas / HAPSA

Following another racing-free Sunday on the local circuit, Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo returns to center stage this Monday afternoon with an expansive, 18-race marathon program. Post time kicks off at an early 12:30 p.m., featuring a pair of highly competitive overnight handicaps that serve as the marquee attractions of the day.

The first stakes-quality test on the card will be the Handicap Picapleitos over 1,800 meters on the main track, followed closely by the Handicap Haras Chapadmalal going 1,200 meters. The former is a wide-open router test restricted to four-year-olds and upward, while the latter offers a sharp sprinting test for veteran fillies and mares under the exact same eligibility conditions.

The Handicap Picapleitos drew a deeply competitive field of proven routers, headlined by the progressive Faramond (Il Mercato). Assigned a high weight of 58 kilograms (approximately 128 pounds), the talented five-year-old enters the contest in peak form, coming off a spectacular, fast-closing runner-up finish where he missed by just a half-length to Blue Caviar (Equal Stripes) in the Clásico Malvinas Argentinas (L).

He will square off against the class-dropping Davalos (Hi Happy), who gets in light under 56.5 kilograms (approx. 124 pounds) for his first start following a 184-day layoff. The context of his assignment suggests he is extremely well-weighted; last season, he captured the Clásico Italia (G3) and checked in a close-up third behind Don Champagne (Long Island Sound) in the Clásico OSAF (G3) at La Plata, before going off form in the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha (G1) and Clásico Ayacucho (G3) to close out his campaign.

Sprinting honors will be on the line in the Handicap Haras Chapadmalal, which features a talent-rich delegation making the ship from the provincial circuit. Chief among the La Plata invaders is the ultra-consistent Maylena (Qué Vida Buena), who earns the co-high weight of 60 kilograms (approx. 132 pounds) alongside fellow stakes winners Save Your Tears (Full Mast) at 58 kilograms and Emely (Il Campione) carrying 59.5 kilograms. All three southern shippers possess heavy black-type credentials and look poised to defend their provincial prestige.

The local Palermo defense will be anchored by the classy Bichita de Luz (Fragotero). Assigned 60 kilograms, she signaled a return to her absolute best form last time out in the Handicap British Empire, missing by a mere head to Ma Perque (Cosmic Trigger) in a thrilling finish. Finishing a close-up fourth as the beaten favorite in that exact same race was the talented Joy Traviesa (Fortify), who looks to work out a better trip this time around and figures to make her presence felt in the final furlong.

For turf handicappers searching for premium value on the tote board, the red-hot Sir Limonada (Lencelot) steps up in class while carrying an incredibly featherweight assignment of just 53.5 kilograms (approx. 118 pounds), making her an intriguing longshot candidate to upset the established class.