Sarzana Pass looks to rebound in the Clásico General Alvear

The El Alfalfar filly will face nine tough rivals in the dirt kilometer, with post time scheduled for approximately 7:35 p.m.

Sarzana Pass has already captured three stakes victories down the Palermo straigh / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Speed for fillies and mares will once again be in the spotlight at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, where a new running of the Clásico General Alvear (L–1000m, dirt) will be staged this Monday.

A field of 10 runners—aged three, four, five, and seven—will meet in an intriguing generational clash within a division still searching for a clear standout.

The filly Sarzana Pass (Distinctiv Passion) showed admirable consistency through much of the season, though she briefly lost her way in her two most recent starts. A multiple stakes winner—including the G3 Clásicos México and Carlos Casares, the Clásico Carlos Pezoa, and the Especial Gay Hermit—the El Alfalfar homebred finished seventh in the G1 Suipacha and fifth in the G2 Venezuela, and connections will be hoping she can return to her best form.

That task will not be an easy one, particularly against the likes of the reliable Enjoy Dancing (Hi Happy), who has been knocking on the door and appears poised to break through at any moment. Her most recent effort produced a solid third in the G3 General Güemes, behind Lissette Island (Lizard Island), under conditions very similar to those she will encounter here.

On that same card, Envidiada (Il Campione) arrived with high expectations but could do no better than eighth, finishing well below her anticipated level. That effort was likely too poor to be taken at face value, and she merits another chance.

Also among the three-year-olds, La Farce (Grand Reward) and Verdadera Pass (Distinctiv Passion) loom as potential upsetters. The former has been thriving in demanding allowance company over the Palermo straight, while Sarzana Pass’s stablemate was third in the G3 Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires before faltering in the aforementioned Venezuela.

A graded stakes winner, Breau Breeze (AP Candy) is always a lurking threat, while special attention must be paid to Córdoba-based Santa Calma (Qué Vida Buena), who signed off her last appearance by finishing a close second, two lengths behind Portuaria Lure (Puerto Escondido), in the Listed La Troienne over the turf at San Isidro.