On a Saturday without Turf, Lacanian Ink Leads the Partícula Lineup

With the allowance races moved to the dirt, the daughter of Fragotero will try to follow up on her recent victory in the G2 Paseana Stakes, though she’ll have to contend with a field of seasoned rivals

Lacanian Ink is coming off a victory in the G2 Paseana Stakes / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Racing returns to the Hipódromo de San Isidro this Saturday, though it won’t be a day for turf enthusiasts, as all the condition races have been moved to the inner dirt track in an effort to "preserve" the main course.

Truthfully, it’s a never-ending story. Just last Sunday, with the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo, the course was heavy, officially labeled as “wet,” and races went ahead. Now, racing on turf is avoided to protect the surface—even though the next top-level race here isn’t until August.

There’s no clear policy, no consistent line to follow, and owners and horsemen are left at the mercy of a decision made just hours before post time—after horses have shipped, medications administered, and shoes nailed on. At that point, scratching is hardly an option without taking a financial hit. Without coordinated guidelines, this issue will remain unresolved indefinitely.

From a sporting standpoint, the program features plenty of highlights, especially among the 2- and 3-year-olds. The main attraction is the G2 Partícula Stakes, run over 2000 meters and offering a purse of 11,000,000 pesos to the winner.

Two main form lines emerge heading into the race: the G2 Paseana Stakes, run under similar conditions, and the G1 Criadores, also contested over 10 furlongs, but on the dirt at Palermo.

In the former, Lacanian Ink (Fragotero) set the pace and proved too strong, upsetting heavy favorite Obra Clásica(Daddy Long Legs), who won’t be back for this. Garbiñe (Lucullan) ran third, and Punta Turquesa (Fortify) finished just behind—both are looking for redemption.

From the Criadores come Presencial (Suggestive Boy), Ceniza Pampa (Hat Ninja), and Romana Craf(Mastercraftsman), who finished third, fourth, and sixth, respectively—all of them known to favor turf over dirt.

If Lacanian Ink is allowed to dictate terms again, she may prove tough to catch.