La Watson, Carrying Top Weight and Solid Credentials, Aims to Stand Out in the Miss Grillo

The daughter of Hurricane Cat enters off a third-place finish behind champion Charm in the Clásico Chile (G2) and looms as one of the leading contenders over 2200 meters; Reina Casada and Lysva feature among her key rivals

The Handicap Miss Grillo (2200 m, dirt), reserved for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up, will round out Monday's stakes card at Hipódromo de Palermo, featuring a field that merges experience, graded form, and emerging hopefuls looking to make a jump in class. La Watson, bearing the high weight assignment of 58 1/2 kilos, stands out as one of the most compelling contenders.

Trained by Gustavo Scarpello, the daughter of Hurricane Cat arrives off a solid effort in the Clásico Chile (G2), where she finished third, 6 1/2 lengths behind multiple champion Charm (Strategos), while outrunning G1 winner Cannolina (South Kissing). That display left a lasting impression, and she now finds a considerably more accessible spot, though she must shoulder a heavy burden in the handicap scales.

Competitor Reina Casada (Long Island Sound, 56) also featured in that same event, finishing fifth, just 3/4 of a length and a nose behind La Watson. At 7 years old, the seasoned racemare continues to prove she retains the form to remain competitive at a top level.

Another runner generating high expectations is Lysva (Gouverneur Morris, 53 1/2), carrying the hopes of Rubio B. She launched her career with a victory on debut, though she failed to make an impact in the Clásico Beazley (G2). Returning to allowance conditions, she quickly found her winning ways before taking fourth in the Clásico Apertura(G2), 3 1/2 lengths behind Portal Maya (Portal del Alto)—a performance that suggested a promising trajectory.

However, a layoff exceeding seven months temporarily halted her progression. She returned with a fourth-place finish in the Handicap Miss Linda and comes off a third-place effort behind Zurda que Enamora (Cosmic Trigger) in allowance company. She now steps back up to feature company carrying a light weight and possessing every chance to regain her best form.

Also demanding attention is Master Jane (Mastercraftsman, 54 1/2), who arrives bolstered by a recent allowance victory, edging Aspra (Cosmic Trigger) by a half-length. The challenge will be translating that effectiveness into a stiffer test, though the momentum of a win always presents a strong argument.

Among the lighter-weighted entrants is Always Funny (Fortify, 51), who receives significant weight concessions. Her immediate lead-in is a third-place finish, 9 lengths behind Sea Daisy (Daniel Boone), in a race where Embellecida(Lucullan, 53)—another runner entered for Monday—finished second, 6 lengths off the winner. While that head-to-head comparison favors the latter, the 2-kilo weight differential between them could level the playing field.

Finally, Existing (Winning Prize) will attempt to rediscover the high form she once displayed. The mare captured the Handicap Miss Grillo 12 months ago and will seek a repeat victory, though her current condition is far from identical. She has lacked consistency, with her recent starts raising doubts, but returning to a track and distance where she previously proved victorious could serve as the catalyst for a resurgence.

With La Watson offering the strongest class credentials, Reina Casada bringing seasoned experience, and several rivals receiving key advantages in the handicap, the Miss Grillo presents an intriguing contest. The 2200-meter stamina test will demand endurance and proper pace management—two factors that may ultimately tip the scales in a race where the margins appear much tighter than recent formlines might suggest.