Need You Tonight, Gordianus, and Butterfing look to snap El Emporio's run in the Gran Premio de Honor

A high-stakes showdown looms this Saturday at Palermo in the Gran Premio de Honor

Need You Tonight, a long-awaited return / JUAN I, BOZZELLO

High-quality racing and elite athletes always draw a crowd, and this Saturday at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, the expectations are sky-high. With a program that stands as one of the best of the first half of the year, the Gran Premio de Honor (G1-2000m, dirt) takes center stage as the definitive preview for the Gran Premio República Argentina (G1)festival on May 1st.

The second leg of the Campeonato de Oro offers El Emporio (Il Campione) a chance to solidify his current dominance. After a professional victory in the Clásico Otoño (G2) a few weeks ago, the divisional leader aims for his seventh career stakes win on the Palermo dirt. However, the challenge intensifies this time with the return of two heavyweight contenders.

Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja), one of last season's top stayers, returns to action for the first time since competing in the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) at Gávea last October. The Stud-Haras El Wing representative, trained by Roberto Pellegatta Jr., was second in this race last year before capturing both the República Argentina and the Estrellas Classic (G1). William Pereyra takes the mount.

Joining the fray is Gordianus (Señor Candy), the hero of the 2025 Gran Premio Nacional (G1). After defeating the now-exported Winston (Forge) and Butterfing (Angiolo) in the Derby, he returns from a freshening at the farm, specifically prepared to peak for the May 1st international meeting.

Butterfing, meanwhile, holds a tactical advantage: he already has a comeback run under his belt. Forty days ago, he romped by 8 lengths in a conditions race over this track and trip, proving he has returned to top form. The field is rounded out by Unico Happy (Hi Happy), runner-up to El Emporio in the Otoño; Billion (Galicado), coming off a second in the Vicente Dupuy (G3); and Buen Escocés (Bodemeister), an easy winner of the Especial El Serrano.