Juan Saldivia Holds a Strong Hand with Lunfardo and Desert Voice in the Clásico Old Man

The colts stand out as top contenders against a field of rising challengers arriving in peak form from the allowance ranks, eager to step up in class

Lunfardo defeated Fletcher when breaking his maiden / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The final component of this Saturday’s high-stakes feature menu at the Hipódromo de Palermo comes courtesy of the traditional Clásico Old Man (G3), a 1,400-meter test on the dirt track that carries massive expectations. Serving as the opening stepping stone for sophomore colts on the road to the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1)—and by extension, the Triple Crown—the race has assembled a highly promising field that could easily reveal top-tier contenders for the upcoming spring classics.

Trainer Juan Saldivia enters the fray holding a powerful hand with two intriguing runners, both seeking redemption after experiencing recent turf setbacks. Launching from the inside post will be Lunfardo (Daddy Long Legs). After hitting the board with a third-place finish behind subsequent G1 winner Colorado del Monte on debut, the Las Canarias color-bearer dug deep to secure a nose victory over Fletcher (Gershwin)—a colt who subsequently validated that form by drawing away to a dominant score in La Plata's Clásico Pedro Goenaga (G2). Lunfardo then switched surfaces to the San Isidro turf for the Clásico Manuel Anasagasti (L), where he failed to spark and finished eighth, though he was not beaten far by the surprise winner Contado.

Breaking just to his outside from post two will be stablemate Desert Voice (Dabster), who also endured a difficult outing on the grass when shipping north to contest the Gran Premio Gran Criterium (G1), finishing a distant tenth. However, his dirt credentials remain formidable; a winner at first asking, he subsequently finished runner-up to The Great Terms in the Clásico Crespo (G3) and crossed the wire a close fifth—beaten less than two lengths—in the Gran Premio Montevideo (G1). If he can recapture that early dirt form, he looms as a major win candidate.

The seasoned stakes performers will face a talented contingent of rising stars stepping up from the maiden ranks on the heels of eye-catching victories. El Gibson (Uncle Chuck), Negro de Pergamino (Hi Happy), and Cautivador(Pneumatic) will all concede a significant experience advantage to the field, but each enters surrounded by high expectations from their respective connections.

Meanwhile, the historic Stud Las Monjitas will look for a bounce-back performance from Mask May (Mask). The colt turned heads with a highly impressive debut victory to kick off his career, but subsequently performed well below market expectations. His connections are banking on a return to the Palermo dirt to restore him to his initial brilliance.

The competitive lineup is completed by Fuego Imponente (Seahenge), who chased home Los Llanos to finish a solid second in the Clásico Luis María Doyhenard (G3), and the La Plata shipper Large Dream (Fortify), who enters off a spectacular, open-length victory at first asking at the provincial track.