Gold, Turf, and a Ticket to the Latino: Six Confirmed for the General San Martín

The 2400-Meter Race Will Accompany the Pollas This Saturday at Palermo, Offering an Extra Purse…

Need You Tonight Steps Up to 2400 Meters, Switching from Dirt to Turf / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Saturday’s Polla card at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo will feature an extra highlight of the highest caliber with the running of the Gran Premio General San Martín (G1, 2400m, turf). The race carries ARS 22,000,000 to the winner and will serve as a key form indicator ahead of the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1), set for October 18 at Gávea in Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, the event will conclude the Campeonato Palermo de Oro Verde, a series that has raised the standard for long-distance turf racing, and will crown its champion in this edition.

The 2025 renewal features six confirmed starters, following the withdrawal of The Gladiator’s Hat (Hat Ninja), the only scratch from the original lineup. Despite the absence, the field remains extremely competitive: four of the entrants are already Grade 1 winners, ensuring a clash of quality.

Among the leading contenders, attention focuses on Crazy Talent (Equal Talent), coming off victories in the Clásico Chacabuco (G2) and Clásico Comparación (G2). The Stud Aladino runner will look to consolidate his dominance over the distance.

He will face Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja), a dirt specialist taking on the big switch to turf. Winner of the Gran Premio República Argentina (G1) and Estrellas Classic (G1), the colt’s ability to handle the surface and stretch from 2000 to 2400 meters represents one of the day’s most intriguing questions.

The remainder of the field includes two additional G1 winners: Acento Final (Treasure Beach), impressive in the 2024 Jockey Club and always a respected competitor, and the courageous Ceniza Pampa (Hat Ninja), victor in both the Gilberto Lerena (G1) and Correas (G2). Oleguer (Equal Stripes) returns to top-level company with ambitions to upset the form, joined by Gadzooks (Galán de Cine).

The Gran Premio General San Martín not only offers prestige, purse money, and points toward the Oro Verde, but it will also be decisive in determining Palermo’s representative for the Latinoamericano.

Post positions were also finalized on Monday (published in this edition), setting the stage for another spectacular showdown in one of the most important days on Argentina’s racing calendar.