The death of Lebrón Blues has left the Clásico Santiago Luro without its star attraction

Mucho Macho Win inherits the role of the favorite following the tragic passing of the son of Le Blues, who had dominated the Clásico Guillermo Kemmis (G3) in a landslide victory

Lebrón Blues left a void that will be difficult to fill / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The Clásico Santiago Luro (G2-1200m, dirt) and the juvenile selection process suffered a heavy blow with the early death of Lebrón Blues, the colt who seemed destined for greatness and stood as the clear favorite for this afternoon's traditional clash at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo.

As reported yesterday, the son of Le Blues—who was coming off a dominant victory in the Clásico Guillermo Kemmis (G3)—collapsed and died on Tuesday afternoon. The tragedy occurred shortly after completing a superb final workout and after his entry had already been ratified. A cardiac arrest is the suspected cause of death for the Stud El Menchorepresentative, which carried the high hopes of Chajarí, Entre Ríos.

With his absence, the outlook opens up completely for the first challenge involving a turn on the Buenos Aires dirt for young colts. Notably, four of the five participants are trained by Marcelo Sueldo, who has become a dominant force in the first semester, much like the controversial Néstor Yalet once was in La Plata.

The Contenders

• Mucho Macho Win (Gershwin): Since Gonzalo Borda, the stable's primary jockey, has opted to ride him, he earns the vote of confidence. A member of the first crop by the stallion Gershwin, he finished third on debut behind Lebrón Blues (9 lengths back) before breaking his maiden immediately after over the same conditions he faces today, winning by 2 lengths.

• Esthetic Boy (Cosmic Trigger) & El Pirata (Il Campione): Both arrive undefeated, having won their debuts on the San Isidro turf straightaway. While neither was dazzling, they passed their first tests convincingly. Their transition to the dirt and the turn makes Mucho Macho Win appear the stronger hand.

• El Rayo Pass (Distinctiv Passion): Completing Sueldo's quartet, he won on debut at La Plata and recently finished second, 4 lengths behind Chichipío (Angiolo), in the Clásico Criadores Argentinos del SPC (L). He now faces a steeper grade of competition.

• Al Recreo (Angiolo): The only runner not from the Sueldo camp, he arrives after a comfortable victory in his third start and is fully capable of an upset.