Napa Valley returns after nearly two years on the sidelines, facing a stiff test at Del Mar

The Gran Premio Palermo (G1) winner makes his return this Sunday over the turf mile, now representing John Sadlerand Hronis Racing with Emisael Jaramillo in the irons

DEL MAR, California (Special for Turf Diario).— Nearly two years after his last appearance, Napa Valley will step back onto a racetrack this Sunday at Del Mar, California. The son of Il Campione, a Group 1 winner in Argentina,makes his United States debut against seasoned, battle-tested opposition.

His farewell South American outing took place on December 14, 2024, when he crossed the wire fourth in the Gran Premio Joaquín S. de Anchorena (G1) over the turf mile at San Isidro, before being promoted to third following the disqualification of Particulado (Mask). He entered that race off a victory in the Gran Premio Palermo (G1) on the Palermo dirt.

Now carrying the silks of Hronis Racing LLC and trained by John Sadler—the same connections that guided fellow Argentine Full Serrano (Full Mast) to prominence on the U.S. turf—Napa Valley has seen his American debut delayed by a string of setbacks. He arrives off a steady series of morning drills, capped by a final half-mile breeze at Santa Anita in :48.60.

With Venezuelan rider Emisael Jaramillo named to ride, he will break from post 2 in the seventh race, a US$ 100,000 allowance optional claiming event offering a US$ 68,000 purse. The distance is 1600 meters on turf, matching his Argentine swansong. Coming off a 23-month layoff, the test will be formidable.

Among the rivals is another South American import: Chilean-bred Horco Molle (Good Samaritan), bred by Haras Matriarca. Winner of the Cotejo de Potrillos (G3) and the Clásico Ignacio Urrutia de la Sotta (L), he also finished fourth in the 2025 El Derby (G1). In the United States, he has yet to hit the board in three starts, all at the allowance optional claiming level.

One of the class standouts in the field is First Peace (Funtastic), winner of the 2024 Eddie D Stakes (G2) as well as the Wickerr Stakes (L) and John Shear Stakes (L). He comes off a sixth-place finish in this season's Eddie D and,while not currently at his peak, his back class against tougher company makes him dangerous.

Also warranting close attention is Packs a Wahlop (Creative Cause), who finished second in an allowance last time out and captured both the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) and Zuma Beach Stakes (G3) as a juvenile before running eighth as a contender in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Keeneland. Now also conditioned by Sadler,he will have Joel Rosario in the irons.

The list of threats continues with Charlie's to Blame (Blame), winner of the Kitten's Joy Stakes (L) at Gulfstream Park; Twirling Point (Twirling Candy), victor of the 2024 Jersey Derby (L) at Monmouth Park; and Scipio(Caravaggio), hero of the 2025 Baffle Stakes (L) at Santa Anita. Known Idea (Goldencents) rounds out the eight-horse field.

Napa Valley's primary mission will be to shake off the rust and show he retains the talent that carried him to Group 1 glory at Palermo. The task ahead is steep, yet simply seeing him back in the starting gate after such a lengthy absence is already welcome news for Argentine racing.