Jugadoraza Chases Elusive Stakes Win in Palermo's España

The daughter of Winning Prize has been showing a very consistent performance and will now face off against Valga La Pena and Push Up

Jugadoraza has not finished lower than third in her last seven outings/ JUAN I. BOZZELLO

While the words and actions from the remarkable day of last Thursday's República Argentina meeting still echo, the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo will once again open its doors this Saturday to offer another entertaining program, with the focus on the Clásico España (L), a 1,000-meter race on dirt for fillies and mares aged 3 years and older.

Most of the top contenders in the division from the central region participated in the Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires (G1) on Labor Day, with Lagoa Azul (Lenovo) coming very close to an incredible upset. For this reason, the tribute to the Mother Country provides an opportunity for less prominent names in the category to step up.

Although the #1 post position could pose a challenge, perhaps the time has come for Jugadoraza (Winning Prize) to secure that much sought-after signature victory. The filly trained by Gustavo Scarpello has found a remarkable level of consistency, never finishing lower than third in her last seven starts.

Runner-up to the aforementioned Lagoa Azul in the Handicap Spiny, Jugadoraza, representing the Rincón del Marstable, most recently finished third, 6 lengths behind Eleven Mile (Il Campione) in the Handicap Con Brio, one spot ahead of Valga La Pena (Fortify), with whom she will face off again, determined to turn the tables.

Race dynamics often play a crucial role in determining whether Valga La Pena excels, as, unlike Jugadoraza, she tends to be quite inconsistent in her performances. However, it is clear that when she is in top form, she poses a serious threat.

Juan C. Etchechoury (Jr.), William Pereyra, and the team at Rubio B. are eager to continue their good run with Push Up (Bodemeister), who completely disappointed in the aforementioned Handicap Con Brio. However, as a past winner of the Handicap Sandal and a frequent close finisher, she must be respected once again.

Enchanted Tales (Il Campione) and Una Felicidad (In the Dark) also enter the race with competitive chances, aiming to make an impact in what will be a tough contest, though it could have been even more challenging.