Gran Premio Nacional: Fourteen Colts Entered in Pursuit of Glory

The pinnacle of the 3-year-old season and final leg of the Triple Crown will offer a $120,000,000 purse to the winner

Blue Caviar Emerges as the Leading Contender for the Gran Premio Nacional / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Nothing less than fourteen colts have been entered for the Gran Premio Nacional (G1)—the Argentine Derby—to be run on Saturday, November 8, over the historic 2500 meters at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo. The race will bring the curtain down on the Triple Crown, which, as has been the case since 1996, will once again go without a sweep.

The lineup is headed by Blue Caviar (Equal Stripes), winner of both the Clásico Coronel Miguel F. Martínez (G3)and Clásico Eduardo Casey (G2), and widely regarded as the horse to beat. His principal challengers include Winston (Forge), victor of the Polla de Potrillos (G3) at La Plata; unbeaten Butterfing (Angiolo), who impressed in his debut win in the Especial Julio F. Penna; Gordianus (Señor Candy), runner-up in the Casey; and Nassau (Forge), second in the Clásico Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3) at El Bosque.

Rounding out the field are Estoy Llamando (Il Campione), Herald News (Equal Stripes), Hi Dolfi (Hi Happy), In the Island (In the Dark), Jazzy Frank (Gidu), Mosto Malbec (Mosto), Peter Tosh (Fortify), The Guantecito (Treasure Beach), and Uncle Moi (Uncle Mo).

As tradition dictates, the Argentine Derby will share the spotlight with two other top-level features: the Gran Premio Palermo (G1, 1600m, dirt), offering $47,000,000 to the winner, and the Gran Premio Maipú (G1, 1000m, dirt), worth $32,000,000.

A field of twelve has been entered for the Palermo, with El Exito (Il Campione) returning to his favored track after dominating earlier this year. His opposition will include Che Vivi (Manipulator), Comando Secreto (War Command), Coro de Rojas (Daddy Long Legs), Descamisado (Cosmic Trigger), Earth God (Cosmic Trigger), Emergent (Il Campione), Kopke (Hi Happy), Liberto (Hurricane Cat), Picasso (Lucullan), Ronda de Ases (Forge), and Song Joy (Fortify).

The Maipú, meanwhile, will feature sprint sensation Labrado (Le Blues), fresh off his victory in the Gran Premio Suipacha (G1) at San Isidro. He will again meet familiar foes Le Cornette (Emmanuel) and Bailarín de Venecia (Angiolo), along with a strong supporting cast including Antiguo Secreto (Angiolo), Cerrito Piñón (Manipulator), El Epecuen (Il Campione), El Fruto (Il Campione), El Madrugador (Il Campione), Filoso Class (Filoso Emperor), Go Clari Go (Strategos), La Asturiana Blue (Le Blues), Land of Promise (Le Blues), Lyon (Lenovo), Naranccello (Le Blues), Oro Azteca (Empire Aztec), Ruler Man (Manipulator), and Santo Federal (Santillano).

Final forfeits and riding assignments will be accepted until Monday, November 3, at noon, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated race days of the Argentine calendar.