Labrado tops the entries for a must-see running of the Félix de Alzaga Unzué

The three-time sprint champion will make a fourth attempt to capture the one Grade 1 sprint still missing from his résumé

Labrado goes after the one Grade 1 still missing from his résumé down the straight / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

As is almost always the case, the sprint race within the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1) program drew the largest field of entries. No fewer than 27 runners have been nominated for the GI Félix de Alzaga Unzué (1000m, turf), and one name naturally commands the spotlight: Labrado.

The three-time national sprint champion—who most recently captured the GI Suipacha under identical conditions—will make a fourth attempt at the only top-level title missing from his résumé. He broke through the gate in the 2022 edition and then finished third in both 2023 and 2024.

Owner of 14 career victories, eight of them at the G1 level, the Le Blues son missed the GI Maipú in November at Palermo due to a minor physical setback, a race in which El Epecuen (Il Campione) surged to prominence while trying the straight track for the first time.

This year’s renewal could include three additional G1 winners: Le Cornette (Emmanuel), El Mejor Recuerdo (Il Campione) and Brazil’s Lendario Brujo (Comandante Dodge), along with El Resero Con Capa (Angiolo), fresh off his victory in the G2 Ciudad de La Plata on Nov. 19.

Other major players include Bailarín de Venecia (Angiolo), winner of the G2 Cyllene; El Luciano (Il Campione), who just took the Clásico Aristophanes; and La Bella Otero (Daddy Long Legs), successful in both the G3 General Lavalleand G2 Venezuela.

Rounding out the deep cast of probables are: Bizarrap (Forge), Contra Pronóstico (Daddy Long Legs), El Fortín (Il Campione), El Madrugador (Il Campione), En Un Rincón (Manipulator), Flamboyance Rim (Remote), Gracias Gringo (Lenovo), Grand Star (Grand Reward), Joy Fun (Fortify), La Gran Furtiva (South Kissing), Land of Promise(Le Blues), Martinique (Señor Candy), Naranccello (Le Blues), Opreso (Endorsement), Pairos (Le Blues), Santo Federal (Santillano), Say the Truth (Long Island Sound) and Vendaval Joy (Roman Joy).

The GI Félix de Alzaga Unzué will distribute ARS 70,000,000 in total purse money, with ARS 35,000,000 to the winner. Entry and confirmation fees amount to ARS 1,050,000 for a spot in the starting gate.