Illa Alegre looks to extend her spring streak… though the Gnecco won’t be a walk in the park

The Stud El Barrial trainee comes off an authoritative win, but Poliziana is looking for revenge, Bella Marieta drops in with a G1 résumé, and It’s My Look aims to start landing major victories

Illa Alegre faces her toughest challenge yet / HLP

LA PLATA.- It’s impossible not to get excited about all that the Clásico Manuel F. y Emilio Gnecco (G3, 1600 meters, dirt)promises, a feature for fillies and mares four and older, and the centerpiece of another busy Saturday at Hipódromo El Bosque. The card also features the Clásico Wilfredo Latham (L) for sprinting fillies, covered separately in this edition.

Illa Alegre, the division’s dominant force in the south, will look to defend her position against four tough northern raiders, some already experienced at this level, others seeking to carve out a place for themselves.

Though she’s already seven, the Sabat Husson filly from Stud El Barrial is running like a machine, with convincing evidence in her back-to-back important victories. She first showed her grit to defeat Jalimba (Señor Candy) in the Handicap Haras de La Pomme, carrying a light 54 kg, but it was her performance in the Clásico Otelo A. Orlandi (L)—at weight-for-age—that really drew attention, dispatching Poliziana (Fortify) by seven lengths. Poliziana will attempt to get her revenge this time.

From Campo 2 de San Isidro comes It’s My Look (Equal Stripes), trained by Franco Scarpello, who recently finished third to Priola (South Kissing) in the Handicap Jorge H. Iglesias. The Stud Los Betos filly is highly regarded and ready to start settling her accounts with big wins.

Juan Saldivia ships in the tough Bella Marieta (Cosmic Trigger) from Palermo. She lost her unbeaten record in her third start to International Look (Cosmic Trigger), a G1 contender, and later ran a very respectable sixth in the Gran Premio Estrellas Distaff (G1), just 4 ½ lengths behind Coni Fizz (Marconi).

Also trained at San Isidro, Guiltless (Full Mast) may not be the most consistent, but she can show flashes of class, primarily on turf, though she was third in the 2023 Polla de Potrancas (G2) at La Plata.

Finally, Sobra Mio (El Moisés) will go for the upset, carrying lower figures but plenty of hope.