On a day of quality racing, San Isidro presents the Ocurrencia and Reconquista Stakes

This Saturday promises to be unmissable, featuring a host of conditional races showcasing promising prospects

Forever Rim will carry the Firmamento colors in the Ocurrencia Stakes / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The contrast at Hipódromo de San Isidro is striking. Moving from a dull midweek card (always in terms of quality) to a completely different scenario on weekends has become routine.

Relying on alternative categories and races for older horses means significant cost savings, but fortunately, turf fans still get a breather on weekends — a chance to see standout runners, promising juveniles, and stakes races.

There will be hardly a race to miss this Saturday at the Jockey Club Argentino’s venue, where the spotlight falls on the Ocurrencia (G3, 1000m) and Reconquista (L, 1400m on the turn) Stakes. The former is for fillies four years and up, while the latter is open to horses aged four and older — both contested on turf.

The sprint division remains wide open in the Ocurrencia, with no clear leader in the North, as top spots seem to trade hands race after race.

The most recent form reference came in the Clásico Producción Nacional (L) less than a month ago, when Forever Rim (by Remote) impressed with a 1 1/2-length win over Firenze Key (Key Deputy), followed by Flamboyance Rim(Remote), Enjoy Dancing (Hi Happy), and Durmia (Cityscape).

All are set to clash again this time, but with a key difference: the previous meeting was run under handicap conditions, while Saturday’s will be decided by weight-for-age scale — a factor that could shake up the outcome.

Enjoy Dancing carried topweight last time and gave away significant weight. The mention of the Stud Rodolfo Pedrorunner is no coincidence, as she had just won the Handicap Fitzcarraldo, narrowly defeating Forever Rim by a neck while conceding 10 pounds.

Joining the field are the inconsistent A La Vista (Angiolo) and Reina Richard (Emperor Richard), the latter looking to erase her eighth-place finish in the Clásico República de Panamá (G3) at Palermo in one stroke.

As for the Reconquista, to be contested as a handicap, it will mark the highly anticipated return of Holy Joy, the Fortify colt who was one of last season’s standout juveniles, winning the Gran Premio Montevideo (G1) and the Clásico Miguel Cané (G2).

The Firmamento runner has been off the track for 308 days, last finishing sixth — just 4 3/4 lengths behind Acento Final (Treasure Beach) — in the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1). Carrying a manageable 130 pounds, he has a good chance to win, although that race is his only prior turf experience.

The favorite faces several challengers, including Talented Hit (by Hit It a Bomb, 121 lbs), bred at Juan Carlos Bagó’s farm but racing for Haras El Angel de Venecia. After three impressive conditional wins at San Isidro, he took on the challenge of the Gran Premio Estrellas Mile (G1) at Palermo, finishing seventh — just under eight lengths behind winner El Exito (Il Campione) — a very respectable effort.

Garufa Mask (by Mask, 128 lbs) comes fresh off a win in the Clásico Gendarmería Nacional Argentina and aims to repeat, while another known stakes performer is Mr Versace (Fortify, 128 lbs), who went unnoticed in the Clásico Mariano Moreno at La Plata but has proven to be a strong turf runner.