Fiolo Boss will look to return to winning ways in the Clásico Blend

The son of Holy Boss is no stranger to the Palermo turf and looms as a top contender against five tough rivals this Saturday

Fiolo Boss is already a two-time stakes winner over the Palermo turf / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Following heavy rains on Friday and with more precipitation in the weekend forecast, Saturday’s card at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo will be contested over a heavy track.

The 14-race program is anchored by the featured Clásico Blend (L), scheduled for a mile on the turf—unless officials opt to move it to the main dirt track, a decision that will be made closer to post time. Historically, however, such switches are rare.

Restricted to 4-year-olds and up under weight-for-age conditions, the field is comprised of six seasoned contenders, all boasting solid credentials and setting the stage for a race of notable quality.

Chief among them is Fiolo Boss (Holy Boss), who returns to the surface where he has enjoyed his best moments, including wins in the Clásico Japón (L) and the Clásico República Federativa del Brasil (G3). Trained by Juan Saldivia, the bay enters off a string of respectable efforts at the graded level, finishing second, third, and fifth behind El Exito (Il Campione) in the Clásico El Virtuoso (G3), the Clásico Benito Villanueva (G2), and the G1 Gran Premio de las Américas – OSAF, respectively.

Looking to continue his rise is El Gazpacho (Bodemeister), who steps back up to the mile following a victory in the 1400-meter Clásico Mesa del Senado (L) at San Isidro. Representing Stud La Frontera, he nailed Midnight Runner (Forge) on the wire that day, with Don Rocky (Equal Stripes) a length back in third. Both will reappear here, with Don Rocky likely to benefit from the added ground.

Safety Honour (Safety Check) was better than his seventh-place finish in the OSAF might suggest, while Twitch Hurricane (Hurricane Cat) enters off a narrow victory in the Handicap Practicante and appears poised for further improvement. Rounding out the field is Le Club (Le Blues), a name that warrants serious respect in any scenario.