Rugiente Returns to Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo to Take on Príncipe Soñado and Despacito

The final card of the season on the Buenos Aires dirt features a can’t-miss centerpiece over 1200 meters at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo

Rugiente finished fourth in the 2024 Clásico Jorge Ricardo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

With a compact 10-race program, the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo will bring its 2025 season to a close this Monday. The spotlight will fall on the eighth race, the Clásico Jorge A. Ricardo, a tribute to the legendary Brazilian rider who remains active and stands as the most prolific winner in the history of world racing, with an astonishing 13,364 victories.

Contested over 1200 meters on the dirt, for horses aged four and up under scale-of-weights conditions, and offering ARS 7,660,000 to the winner, the race has attracted a field of 11 and promises a high-class showdown among proven specialists of the division.

At the top of the shortlist is Rugiente (Il Campione), who arrives off a strong sequence of performances. Winner of the Handicaps Mesa Alvear and Rubén Emilio Laitán, he most recently turned in a solid effort when fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the Clásico Ciudad de La Plata, behind El Resero Con Capa (Angiolo).

Here, Rugiente renews rivalry with two seasoned La Plata-based campaigners trained by Darío Periga: Príncipe Soñado(Fragotero) and Despacito (Sabayón).

Príncipe Soñado finished a length ahead of Rugiente in that major sprint at La Plata and subsequently confirmed his form by edging the Handicap Make Tracks by a nose over the San Isidro dirt.

Despacito, meanwhile, continues to defy the calendar at eight years of age, racing with the enthusiasm of a much younger horse. The clearest evidence came just 29 days ago in the Clásico Jorge Valdivieso, where he battled gamely to defeat Bichita de Luz (Fragotero) by half a length, bringing his career tally to 16 victories.

Bichita de Luz will once again take on the males here, ready to give her all in a bid to return to winning ways, her trademark generosity firmly intact.

Also not to be overlooked are Bienhechor (Hurricane Cat), fresh off a victory in the Handicap Sideral, and Earth and Fire (Cosmic Trigger), the 2024 winner of the Clásico Latency, who is never an easy rival. Rounding out the picture is Mis Padres (Tantos Años), arriving in confident mood and looking to post a bold figure.

All told, the Clásico Jorge A. Ricardo shapes as a fitting and competitive finale to the Palermo season, honoring a living legend and showcasing the depth of the sprinting ranks..