Pasión del Alma Pass set for the Clásico Islas Malvinas

After a standout debut, the El Alfalfar homebred meets only 3 challengers at San Isidro

Sixties Pen, one of two winners in the lineup / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Many stakes races for juveniles are at risk of losing their black-type status in the near future, and following today's edition, the Clásico Islas Malvinas (L) is likely to be among them. Only four runners were confirmed for the 1000-meter turf sprint at San Isidro Racecourse, two of whom are still maidens. Regardless of how handicappers frame it, these numbers speak for themselves, and defending the race's status will be an arduous task.

After debuting over 1100 meters on a heavy dirt track less than three weeks ago—winning by 7 lengths over Onda Sexy(Lizard Island)—the filly Pasión del Alma Pass (Distinctiv) emerges as the clear favorite. The El Alfalfar homebred left a solid impression and must now handle the transition to the turf straightaway, a surface well-supported by her pedigree.

On the same day the favorite opened her campaign, Siete Lagos (Full Mast) also made his debut, falling 1 1/2 lengths short of Cadiz (Strategos) while running remarkably well. Faced with such a small field, it was impossible for connections not to take a shot here, though he will need a significant step forward to upend Pasión del Alma Pass.

Sixties Pen (Sixties Song) was victorious in her debut over 800 meters but failed to live up to expectations in the Clásico Congreve (L), finishing a distant fifth behind the now-retired Enter the Club (The Great Day). Unless she shows marked improvement, she faces a tough task.

Finally, Capavolta (Made You Look), the other filly in the lineup, finished third to the heavy favorite by just over 7 lengths in their previous encounter—a margin that seems difficult to overturn despite the change in racing conditions.