La Plata Takes Center Stage This Weekend with Two Highly Competitive Stakes
La Cordial and Desert Voice headline a weekend featuring a stakes double header. El Bosque will also host racing on Sunday
LA PLATA.— Hipódromo de La Plata will take center stage over the weekend, with cards scheduled for Saturday and Sunday and a stakes double header featured on the opening program. Both stakes will be contested over 1500 meters on the dirt, drawing 6 runners apiece in open affairs. The first is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., with the second to follow at 6:00 p.m.
Up first is the Clásico República de Ecuador, reserved for fillies and mares 4 years old and up under weight-for-age conditions, where margins appear slim. The immediate benchmark is the Handicap Haras Don Florentino, in which Cancha Rayada (Strategos) finished a nose behind Franta (Fortify), while Hi Crystal (Hi Happy) finished third, 5 lengths back. Now they meet again under different weight conditions—a crucial factor to consider.
Cancha Rayada will look to replicate that effort, though Hi Crystal possesses every argument to dispute the spotlight,having previously finished second in a 1600-meter G3.
La Cordial (Santillano), however, sits a notch above in consideration following her victory in the Clásico Jockey Club de Santa Fe. On that day, she prevailed by a neck over the talented Blessed Shine (Honour Devil), with Total Triomphe (Cima de Triomphe) third, 1 1/4 lengths behind, confirming her class.
It is precisely Total Triomphe who gets an immediate opportunity for revenge here. Arriving from San Isidro is Camionette (Fortify), coming off a runner-up finish in allowance company without seriously threatening the winner,Pawnee Drive (Lucullan). Red Chilly (Il Mercato) rounds out a compact yet competitive lineup.
Later in the card, the Clásico Rival Dan will gather six 3-year-old colts, also over 1500 meters. Desert Voice emerges as one of the most compelling contenders. The brown colt, trained by Juan Franco Saldivia, will seek his maiden stakes score after finishing fourth, 12 1/2 lengths back, in the Gran Premio Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3) over 2000 meters. A turn back in distance could spark a return to his best form.
His credentials provide ample backing: he captured an allowance race over 1400 meters at Palermo, leaving Shiawase(Lucullan)—who claimed Thursday's Clásico Benito Lynch (L)—back in third. He also ran fifth on a heavy track in the Polla de Potrillos de La Plata (G3) and second to The Great Terms (The Great Day) in the Clásico Manuel J. Güiraldes (G3) at Palermo. More than enough quality to envision a major rebound.
Sunny Thunder (Dubai Thunder) poses another serious threat. Despite facing minor setback issues, he has always hinted at broad capability and comes off his second victory, beating El Pecadito (Cima de Triomphe) by a length.Vertiginoso (Japan) arrives equally motivated: he secured his second career win by 4 lengths over Emerit Hit (Hit It a Bomb) and will attempt to carry that momentum into stakes competition.
Lo Más de Sandino (Sandino Ruler) warrants respect following his runner-up effort, a length behind Sensei (Storm Embrujado) against one-time winners, though he subsequently finished last, 10 lengths adrift of Cádiz (Strategos), in the Clásico José María Boquín (L).
Henry the Champ (Puerto Escondido) just broke his maiden in his seventh attempt by half a head, while Ofuscador(Daniel Boone) comes off a fifth-place finish, 15 lengths behind Joy Conquistador (Roman Joy). Two stakes, twelve contenders, and an action-packed afternoon awaiting resolution at El Bosque.
