Pecadora Joy Eyes a Long-Awaited First Stakes Victory

The highly regarded Firmamento Homebred headlines Palermo’s Jamelao (L)

Martín Valle seeks another big win for Firmamento / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The highlight of Sunday’s card at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo will be the Clásico Jamelao (L, 1400m, dirt, weight-for-age), featuring a highly competitive field of fillies and mares aged four and up.

With no clear-cut standout, the edge goes to Pecadora Joy, a homebred from Haras Firmamento, who has long been held in high regard but has yet to fully reward that confidence. Trained by Carlos D. Etchechoury, the daughter of Fortify showed talent as a juvenile, finishing second to Madonna Benois (Angiolo) in the Clásico Raúl Aristegui (G2). As an older filly, she came close in the Clásico Inés Victorica Roca (G3) and recently made an encouraging return after more than six months on the sidelines. With that comeback under her belt, she should be primed for a top effort.

Among her chief rivals is Ingres (Galicado), who has been in strong form. She captured the Especial Carmelinda in La Plata, finished runner-up to Opera Garnier (Safety Check) in the Clásico Sociedad Hipódromo Chile, and most recently ran a game third against males in Palermo’s Handicap Dancing Moss, won by the G2-placed Torino Kiin Ha (Señor Candy).

Emma Linda (Emmanuel) returns after 126 days, having last finished fifth to Che Mamita (Safety Check). However, her back-to-back wins in the lead-up to that effort suggest she has the potential to compete at this level.

Another intriguing contender is Isolation (Suggestive Boy), making the trip from La Plata in search of black type to enhance her broodmare credentials, while Life Starts Now (Qué Vida Buena) has shown flashes of ability but has yet to reach her full potential.

Finally, Furiosa Vis (Furious Key), another La Plata-based runner, enters off a tough conditional win at Hipódromo de La Plata and could make her presence felt in the stretch.

A wide-open contest awaits, with Pecadora Joy aiming to finally break through at the stakes level.