Queen Elinor Looks to Punch Her Ticket to the Polla With Victory in Palermo’s Campos

Runner-Up to Charm in the Estrellas Juvenile Fillies, Queen Elinor Faces Five in Key Triple Crown Prep

Citadelle Looks to Build on Runner-Up Finish in Morales at La Plata / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The road to the Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (G1) runs through Palermo this afternoon, where the Clásico General Luis María Campos (G2, 1600m, dirt) will serve as the final major stepping stone for the division’s 3-year-old fillies. But this year’s edition has come up light, both in numbers and proven class.

With stars like Charm (Strategos) and Roshita (Gouverneur Morris) waiting in the wings for the classics to begin, and with the La Plata version of the Polla just days away—not to mention the Clásico Bayakoa (L) on next week’s agenda—only six fillies will face the starter, and none have yet to score at the stakes level.

That opens the door for Queen Elinor (Señor Candy) to take a step forward. Runner-up to the brilliant Charm by three lengths in the G1 Estrellas Juvenile Fillies, the Stud Chúcaros representative brings the best résumé into today’s contest and figures to be a leading player under Brian Enrique.

Among the challengers, Citadelle (Fortify) will look to bounce back from her turf misfire in the G1 Gran Premio de Potrancas, having since finished second—albeit five lengths behind runaway leader Elenika (Winning Prize)—in the G2 Clásico Miguel Luis Morales at La Plata.

Moon Frank (Gidu) turned heads with a maiden win over the turf at San Isidro and now makes her first start on dirt, a surface on which all three of her sire’s stakes winners have succeeded. She’ll be looking to prove her versatility and book a berth in next month’s top test.

The Great Village (The Great Day) made a seamless transition from grass to dirt to break her maiden in style over this same mile trip and could be sitting on another strong effort, while My Pride (Daddy Long Legs) brings graded experience—fifth in the G1 Potrancas, third in the G3 Güiraldes—though she still seeks a breakthrough performance.

Rounding out the field is Sweet Sabrina (Daniel Boone), who graduated at second asking on soft turf at San Isidro. She’ll need to take a sizable step forward, especially switching to dirt, but the open nature of the race gives her a puncher’s chance.

It may not be the deepest Campos in recent memory, but the reward—positioning for the Polla—is no less valuable.