Lagoa Azul Drops to Handicaps to Extend Winning Streak, but Will Carry 62 Kilos

The daughter of Lenovo is coming off victories in the Alvear (L) and Arenales (G3) and will face a tough group of rivals

Lagoa Azul is at a sensational level / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Dominant in Palermo’s sprint stakes, Lagoa Azul will take a slight step down in class this Friday in pursuit of another victory. Racing over the same track where she has been unstoppable, the daughter of Lenovo is the top candidate for the Handicap Spiny (1000m, dirt), one of two above-average contests on the card. However, she will have to shoulder top weight at 62 kilos.

A powerhouse of a mare—she weighed in at 533 kilos in her most recent start—the chestnut has remained unbeaten since joining Stud Don Roque, capturing an alternative event before claiming the Alvear (L) and Arenales (G3), always setting the pace.

Her task will be far from easy, though, as she faces 12 challengers, including the ever-consistent Jugadoraza (Winning Prize, 54.5kg), who recently secured her third career win in an allowance race. Prior to that, she was a close third, beaten less than a length by Joy Melódica (Fortify) in the Handicap El Centauro.

In that same race, Valga La Pena (Fortify, 54.5kg) finished second, just ahead of Jugadoraza, but a later seventh-place effort in the Clásico General Alvear weakens her case as a serious threat.

Much more was expected from Eleven Mile (Il Campione, 58kg) in the Clásico Miss Terrible, where she could only manage fifth. However, she previously won the Clásico La Troienne (L) and delivered a strong performance in the Gran Premio Félix de Alzaga Unzué (G1). She now switches from turf to dirt in an attempt to regain prominence.

Not to be overlooked is Betania B (Angiolo, 56kg), who won the Handicap Solyluz and recently finished a close second to Chocotorta (Todo Un Amiguito, 58kg) in the Handicap Tintilla. A rematch between the two is on the cards.

Meanwhile, the lightning-fast Doña Chila (Peten Itza, 58kg) has racked up three consecutive runner-up finishes since winning the Clásico Lunasia in La Plata. She finished second in the Clásico Aníbal D. Etchart, the Especial República de Panamá, and the Clásico Veloces de la Recta Azuleña.