Holy Joy Set to Resume Campaign, Eyes Return to Top Company

With strong past performances backing him up, the Alfredo Gaitán Dassié-trained runner headlines Wednesday’s feature race field

Holy Joy shining as a juvenile on the Palermo dirt / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The traditional Wednesday card at San Isidro Racecourse will feature several optional events for 3-year-olds (not alternates, it’s worth noting) and will be headlined by the Clásico Gendarmería Nacional Argentina, contested over 1400 meters on the auxiliary dirt track under handicap conditions.

The main attraction will be the return of Holy Joy, one of last season’s leading juveniles, who comes back after 291 days away from the races and will carry top weight of 59.5kg (131 lbs).

A homebred for Haras Firmamento and trained by Alfredo Gaitán Dassié, the son of Fortify was last seen finishing sixth in the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1), but previously had stamped himself as one of the best of his crop with victories in the Gran Premio Montevideo (G1) and the Clásico Miguel Cané (G2). He was also fifth in the Polla de Potrillos (G1). With such credentials, if he returns anywhere near his best form, he should prove hard to beat.

However, the long layoff is a factor that cannot be ignored. Among those looking to spoil his comeback is Garufa Mask(Mask), assigned 57kg and entrusted to top jockey Gustavo Calvente as he aims to rediscover the form that saw him take the Clásico Asociación Argentina de Fomento Equino (L).

Visiting from Rosario’s Independencia racecourse is Bitter Orange (Cosmic Trigger, 55.5kg), who is aiming for an upset after a respectable fourth-place finish in the Clásico Juan Carlos Etchechoury, just 1 1/2 lengths behind Giant Rimout(Remote).

Don Ritual (Equal Stripes, 56kg) will seek redemption after a disappointing effort in La Plata’s Clásico 9 de Julio – Día de la Independencia (G3), where he finished well down the field despite not being beaten far. Prior to that, he had captured a demanding allowance race, suggesting better is possible.

Also looking for a form reversal is Black Stripes (Equal Stripes), eighth in the Clásico 25 de Mayo de 1810 (G2), as both he and Don Ritual aim to bounce back to their better selves.