Lissette Island and El Resero Con Capa headline Saturday’s stakes action

The mare returns to the turf and stands out in the Olavarría (G3), while the colt seeks victory in the Mesa del Senado (L)

Lissette Island switches from dirt to turf / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The turf at San Isidro takes center stage this afternoon with an engaging program highlighted by the Clásico Olavarría (G3) and the Clásico Mesa del Senado (L).

In the Olavarría (G3), a 1,000-meter sprint for fillies and mares, Lissette Island ventures away from her familiar dirt surface at Palermo to test the Jockey Club Argentino’s main turf course. Though she has only one prior start on this grass—a narrow runner-up finish to future G2 winner Dream Serena (Forge) early in her career—her current form is formidable. The daughter of Lizard Island enters on a hot streak with victories in the Caballerizas Argentinas, General Güemes (G3), and General Arenales (G3).

She faces a stern challenge from the rising Pretoriana (Daniel Boone). The Santa María de Araras homebred has secured back-to-back wins in the Clásico Miss Terrible and the Clásico Potri Pe. A victory today would firmly establish her at the top of the division. The field also features the return of La Meninha (Le Blues) to the turf and a rematch between Save Your Tears (Full Mast) and Arkansas City (Angiolo).

Later in the card, the Clásico Mesa del Senado (L), a 1,400-meter handicap, sees El Resero Con Capa (Angiolo, 57 1/2 kg) as the one to beat. One of the country's most consistent sprinters with a turn, he returns to the seven-furlong distance following a solid second-place effort behind Campo Verde at La Plata. His main threats include the improving Río New (Hurricane Cat, 55 1/2 kg) and the dangerous front-runner Midnight Runner (Forge, 53 kg).