Siesta Heads to La Plata With Her Sights Set on the Raúl Aristegui

The daughter of Cityscape, held in high regard by her connections, looks to conquer new horizons under the Sueldo-Borda team

Candy Unica, winner of the Damiani, will be among the starters / HLP

LA PLATA.- First it was Gota Clara Sos (Made You Look), who departed to establish herself as a leading force on the turf at San Isidro. Then came Salema (Il Mercato), although after her performance in the Gran Premio de Potrancas (G1), she may soon return. The question now becomes: who will emerge as the new leader among the 2-year-old fillies at this track?

At least for the moment, the answer may begin to take shape this afternoon when the Clásico Raúl Aristegui (G2) is contested. Its demanding 1500-meter distance traditionally serves as a dividing line between those fillies capable of continuing along the classic trail and those whose future is likely to lie in sprinting.

Seven runners have been confirmed in what appears to be a competitive and quality-filled field, with Marcelo Sueldoand Gonzalo Borda hoping to remain at the forefront through Siesta (Cityscape), a filly from whom much more has always been expected than she has shown thus far.

A winner on debut over the San Isidro turf course, she later finished third behind Embozada Rim (Remote) in the Clásico Saturnino J. Unzué (G2) and sixth behind Gran Gotera (Made You Look) in the Gran Premio Jorge de Atucha (G1). Her connections have now opted for what appears to be a more manageable assignment.

Sueldo will also be represented by another serious contender in Juara (Storm Embrujado), who followed a fifth-place finish in the Unzué by shipping to La Plata and scoring impressively by four lengths in an allowance race, albeit over 1200 meters.

Both fillies will face a formidable rival in Candy Unica (Señor Candy), winner of the Clásico Fortunato Damiani (G3) and subsequently third behind Salema in the Clásico Andrés S. Torres (G3), bringing valuable stakes experience into the race.

Among those arriving off maiden victories, Xurra (Forge) stands out after quickly building on a promising debut to draw away by four lengths in a local 1300-meter event.

Omar Labanca sends out the unbeaten Fuga a Italia (Cityscape), who launched her career with a determined victory on the San Isidro turf and now faces a new challenge with a change of surface, distance, and class level.

Breaking from post 2 will be Onda Sexy (Lizard Island). After racing twice at San Isidro, she found her first victory here at La Plata over 1000 meters in convincing fashion. The step up in distance is significant, but perhaps she can follow the path blazed by her stablemate Gran Gotera at the highest level.

The field is completed by maiden Derry (Nicholas), who has finished in the money in both of her starts.

With several fillies looking to establish themselves as the division's next standard-bearer, the Raúl Aristegui promises to provide important clues about the future of La Plata's juvenile filly ranks.