Honest Boy, Vundu and Qué Tarde Gris Headline an Engrillado With a Latino Flavor

The turf marathon division takes center stage at San Isidro, with three major players vying for leadership and a larger goal on the horizon: the chance to represent the Jockey Club in the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1), to be run Oct. 18 in Rio

Honest Boy Comes Off 25 de Mayo Victory and Looks for More / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Several storylines will be on the line this afternoon in the Clásico Engrillado, one of the standout events on an exciting card at San Isidro. The top turf performers at the distance will clash over 2000 meters, not only seeking victory but also an added incentive: a nomination by the Jockey Club Argentino to represent it in the 41st edition of the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) on Oct. 18 at Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The downside—and a telling sign of the current state of Argentine racing—is that the winner will take home 8,750,000 pesos, just over 6,000,000 after deductions, barely enough to cover a few training bills. No extra efforts were made, despite the quality of the entrants… So it goes.

The show, however, is guaranteed, highlighted by the intriguing clash between Vundu (Suggestive Boy) and Honest Boy (Heliostatic), joined by the rising Qué Tarde Gris (Il Campione), moving up from a mile after capturing the Clásico 9 de Julio (G2).

Having overcome another injury, Vundu returned in the Clásico Forli (G2) but came up short, only to redeem himself with a narrow victory in the Clásico Potrillón, edging Capitán Kid (Daniel Boone) by just a head—a margin that looked smaller in practice than it did on paper.

The 2024 Engrillado champion, who retired briefly last year, now meets Honest Boy, a leading contender at the turf marathon distance and proud winner of the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) in his most recent campaign. Although dropping from 2400 to 2000 meters, he previously finished second in both the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1) and the Gran Premio Miguel A. Martínez de Hoz (G1) at this distance. Beating him will be no easy task.

Also dangerous is Qué Tarde Gris, eager to make up for lost time and facing the challenge of taking on the top contenders while stretching out to a mile and a quarter. He runs best late, and that style, combined with his ability, could make the distance increase less taxing.

Capitán Kid looks to continue his progression; One Thing (Brz-Verrazano) returns to the turf where he defeated Vundu following a disappointing effort in the Classic (G1) de las Estrellas on dirt; and Puro de Cuba (Long Island Sound) has regained his form and demands full respect.