Honest Boy Returns in Porteño with Gran Premio 25 de Mayo as Main Target

After 232-Day Layoff, the son of Heliostatic Begins Bid for Repeat in G1 Gran Premio 25 de Mayo

Honest Boy: Proven Class and Experience / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The Clásico Porteño (G3, 2400m, turf), one of the two feature events on Saturday’s card at San Isidro, offers stayers one of their final opportunities to secure a spot in the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1), the most prestigious race of the season for the division at the northern venue after the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1).

With an open-looking scenario—and two of the division’s leading names, The Gladiator’s Hat (Hat Ninja) and Thor Medina (Mootasadir), currently focused on the Latinoamericano—nine runners will line up chasing both victory and a coveted berth in the May feature.

Making his return after 232 days on the sidelines, Carlos D. Etchechoury sends out Honest Boy (Heliostatic), hero of the 2025 renewal of the 25 de Mayo. The classy stayer has not been seen since finishing third behind Vundu (Suggestive Boy) in the Clásico Engrillado, when attempting to qualify for the Latinoamericano at Gávea.

A versatile runner capable of adapting to different race scenarios, Honest Boy will face a deep and varied field. Among the main challengers is Equal Mostaza (Equal Stripes), also trained by Etchechoury—who will saddle four runners in total—and who had scored in the Clásico Cocles (L) and Clásico General Pueyrredón (G3) before disappointing in the Pellegrini, after previously finishing second to Time to Think (Seahenge) in the Clásico Yatasto (G3).

The barn’s strong hand also includes Pecado Original (Global Hunter), runner-up to Thor Medina in the Martínez de Hoz (G1), and Out of the Blue (Drosselmeyer), another seasoned performer.

There is added intrigue surrounding the return of Full Keynote (Full Mast), who had crossed the wire first in that same Martínez de Hoz before being disqualified due to a prohibited substance. With his suspension served, he now gets a prime chance for redemption.

Hit Colchonero (Hit It a Bomb), third in the Martínez de Hoz, and the progressive Castañón Rim (Remote) bring recent form to the table, while El Encinal (Il Campione) will attempt to recapture his best, reminiscent of his victory in the 2023 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1).

In a wide-open contest with plenty of proven class and emerging talent, the Porteño shapes as a key stepping stone—one that could define the road toward the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo.