Maroñas puts the final crown of the generation on the line
The Gran Premio Nacional (G1) will assemble eight 3-year-old colts over 2500 meters this Sunday; the Clásico Carlos Pellegrini (G3) and the Clásico Storace round out a high-caliber program in Montevideo
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special for Turf Diario).— The final chapter of the Uruguayan Triple Crown promises an open finish. This Sunday at Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas, eight 3-year-olds will tackle the 2500 meters of the Gran Premio Nacional (G2), the Derby that has held a privileged position in Oriental racing history for over a century. There will be no Triple Crown winner in 2026, but the line-up features plenty of quality contenders eager to stake their claim to generational leadership.
Abrileño Fever (Texas Fever) enters with the most recent momentum following his victory in the 2000-meter Gran Premio Jockey Club (G3), where he pulled off an upset over International Star (Drosselmeyer). Partnered once again by Yair Pereira, he will look to validate that achievement over a stiffer stamina test, stepping up an extra five furlongs.
International Star has plenty of reasons to seek revenge. Runner-up in the Jockey Club, the Stud Compacrepresentative previously captured the Clásico Criadores Nacionales and reunited for this assignment with Waldemar Maciel, who guided him to two wins and a second-place finish in three starts. His stablemate Es Patriarca (Awesome Patriot) also arrives with unfinished business: after taking the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G3), he finished fourth in the Jockey Club. With Héctor Lazo taking the reins, he gets the chance to add a second classic jewel. Petkovic(Kentuckian), third in the Jockey Club and second in the Polla, looms as another serious threat. Completing the field are Uno Macho (Creative Cause), Ultra Caroline (Heart to Heart), Algoritmo C (Algorithms), and Glorioso Ave(Sloane Avenue).
The feature action is not limited to the Derby. Over 2400 meters on the turf, the Clásico Carlos Pellegrini (L) offers a high-caliber showdown between Olympic Olympic (Alpha), recent winner of the Gran Premio de Honor, and Galikovic (Goldikovic), who seeks revenge after finishing second that day. Also lining up is Native Extreme (Emcee),winner of the Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez (G1), boasting more than enough class to figure prominently in the outcome. Completing the field are Olvidado (Hofburg), Joy From Eden (Camelot Kitten), Trully Approved (T.H. Approval), and Steinkevjczuk (Going Somewhere).
The third feature of the card is the Clásico Nicolás Storace Arrosa y Nicolás Storace Montes, contested over 2100 meters on the grass, which attracted a field of nine fillies and mares. Argentine-bred Copy Link (Daddy Long Legs), an improving sort, looms as one of the chief contenders, though she cannot afford to overlook Bonita Johana (John F Kennedy), Palma del Cielo (Treasure Beach), Julia do Jaguarete (Alpha), and Dua Lipa (Can the Man), among others. It shapes up as an intriguing matchup where distance aptitude will be put to a stern test.
