Lissette Island and La Bella Otero, a high-voltage duel

The Clásico Venezuela (G2), over 1,000 meters, will gather eight high-level sprinters this Monday. The winner of the México (G3) will seek to confirm her leadership against the defending champion, who enters bolstered by her recent success in the Lotería de la Ciudad (G3)

The Palermo straight will offer a top-category spectacle this Monday. The Clásico Venezuela (G2-1000 m, dirt), for 3-year-olds and up fillies and mares, to be run as the seventh race at 5:00 p.m., will feature several of the finest current sprinters, with Lissette Island (Lizard Island) and La Bella Otero (Daddy Long Legs) heading an eight-runner field that promises intense excitement.

The presence of Lissette Island is perhaps the primary attraction. The representative of Stud El Kaiser, trained by Germán Knuttsen and once again with Iván Monasterolo in the irons, boasts 9 wins from 17 starts, 6 of them at the stakes level. She comes off a dominant 2 1/2-length victory in the Clásico México (G3) over the same course, defeating La Gran Furtiva (Grand Reward) while leaving La Bella Otero in fourth.

That display confirmed her status in the upper tier of sprinting, a standing backed by previous stakes triumphs in the Clásico General Güemes (G3), Clásico General Arenales (G3), Clásico Olavarría (G3), and Clásico España (L),among others. Another victory could pave her way toward the Gran Premio Maipú (G1) on Gran Premio Nacionalday, where she would have the opportunity to test herself against the best sprinters of all sexes.

However, La Bella Otero holds ample credentials to challenge for top honors. The daughter of Daddy Long Legs,trained by José Luis Intra, won this very race twelve months ago and returns to the winner's circle following her victory in the Clásico Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (G3), where she led wire-to-wire while holding off the late charge of Enjoy Dancing (Hi Happy) by a neck.

Carrying the silks of Stud C.R.M., she will once again be ridden by Gustavo Calvente as she seeks to defend her title in a race she knows intimately. Her record over the Palermo straight and her early speed from the gates remain her greatest assets.

Enjoy Dancing returns seeking revenge. Conditioned by Edgardo Martucci and ridden by Kevin Banegas, she fell just short in the Clásico Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires and brings a solid record among five-furlong specialists.

Another contender of interest is Vieja Amiga Mask (Mask), who enters on a three-race winning streak in handicaps.The gray mare comes off a victory over 1,400 meters at San Isidro and returns to 1,000 meters, a distance over which she has already won. Guided by William Pereyra, she will attempt to translate her current form to a more demanding class level.

Tartana Frank (Gidu) should not be overlooked after finishing fourth in the Clásico Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, beaten just 3/4 of a length by La Bella Otero. That tight finish demonstrated her ability to compete evenly with the division leaders.

The 3-year-old fillies Pasión del Alma Pass (Distinctiv Passion), recent allowance winner at Palermo, and Amiguita Casual (Todo Un Amiguito), runner-up in the Clásico Wilfredo Latham (L) at La Plata, add youth to the field while taking advantage of the 55-kilo weight assignment compared to the 60 kilos carried by the older mares.

Completing the field is Filha (Nashville Texan), third in the Handicap Revista Palermo at La Plata, possessing sufficient form to aim for a solid performance.

With such speed assembled, early race flow will prove decisive. Lissette Island enters with the strongest credentials,La Bella Otero knows the path to victory, and several rivals stand ready to capitalize on any opening. The Clásico Venezuela promises to be one of the premier races of the week and a key prep heading toward the Gran Premio Maipú.