Honor and Lerena: The Unmissable Grade 1s Highlighting Saturday’s Card at Palermo

Need You Tonight, Gordianus, Butterfing, and El Emporio head a deep field in the opening G1 event; Charm rates the one to beat among the mares; Villanueva and Estados Unidos de América stakes also featured on the blockbuster program

Gordianus, hero of the 2025 Argentine Derby, makes his highly anticipated return in the G1 Honor JUAN I. BOZZELLO

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo is gearing up for a formidable Saturday of racing, continuing its Gold Championships and sharpening the focus toward the May 1 Gran Premio República Argentina (G1) meeting. Monday’s ratifications and post-position draw confirmed top-tier fields for the Gran Premio de Honor (G1) and the Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (G1), each offering a winner’s purse of 30,000,000 pesos.

The Gran Premio de Honor (G1), contested over 2000 meters on the dirt, features a deep field of eight. The lineup is headlined by El Emporio (Il Campione), who arrives on a remarkable streak of seven consecutive stakes victories at Palermo. He faces the return of Gordianus (Señor Candy), the hero of the 2025 Gran Premio Nacional (G1), and Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja). The latter, a winner of both the G1 República Argentina and G1 Estrellas Classic in 2025, returns to domestic action following a layoff after competing in the G1 Latinoamericano at Gávea, Rio de Janeiro. Also confirmed are G1 winner Unico Happy (Hi Happy) and the ascending Butterfing (Angiolo), who ran third in the Derby and was dominant in his recent return. The field is completed by Billion (Galicado), Buen Escosés (Bodemeister), and Cazador de Areco (Long Island Sound).

The Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (G1), a 2200-meter test on the turf for fillies and mares, saw seven defections but remains a high-quality affair. All eyes will be on Charm (Strategos), the standout 3-year-old filly of 2025, who recently returned with a sharp victory in the Clásico Bullrich (G2). Challenging the Triple Alliance color-bearer are Cannolina (South Kissing), Miss Kalima (Seahenge), Miss Talento (Equal Talent), Uruguayan raider Patriótica (Trinniberg), Playa Chopera (Treasure Beach), Portal Maya (Portal del Alto), Presencial (Suggestive Boy), and Romana Craf (Mastercraftsman).

The stakes action on Saturday also includes the Clásico Benito Villanueva (G2) over a mile on the dirt, a key prep for the Gran Premio de las Américas - OSAF (G1). G1 winner Comando Secreto (War Command) leads nine hopefuls, including Nevado Categral (Gouverneur Morris), Liberto (Hurricane Cat), Preston Boss (Holy Boss), Majority Wins (Master of Hounds), Huayno (Interaction), Le Bang (Le Blues), Lemon Drop San (Santillano), and Tryman (Safety Check).

Additionally, Palermo will host the Clásico Estados Unidos de América (G3) on Monday, April 6. The 1000-meter dirt sprint serves as a prep for the G1 Ciudad de Buenos Aires, where division leader Le Cornette (Emmanuel) is slated to face El Mejor Recuerdo (Il Campione), La Bella Otero (Daddy Long Legs), Lyon (Le Blues), Manchini (Malenchini), Primer Amor (Manipulator), Tormenta China (Malenchini), and Vendaval Joy (Fortify).