The Gladiator’s Hat Seeks to Put His Stamina on Display in the Clásico Domingo F. Sarmiento

The Hat Ninja colt, a last-out runner-up in the Pueyrredón (G3), looms as the leading player in Wednesday’s marathon test at San Isidro

The Gladiator's Hat Seeks a Stakes Victory He Already Deserves / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Stayers will take center stage in Wednesday’s program at San Isidro, with the spotlight on the Clásico Domingo F. Sarmiento (L), a 2400-meter test on the dirt run under handicap conditions and offering a winner’s purse of AR$10,000,000.

A field of eight has been entered, and the opportunity looks tailor-made for The Gladiator’s Hat (Hat Ninja) to finally secure the black-type victory he so clearly deserves. Assigned top weight of 58 kilos, the Haras El Angel de Veneciahomebred comes off a strong runner-up effort to Equal Mostaza (Equal Stripes) in the 3000-meter Clásico General Pueyrredón (G3), the longest race on the Argentine calendar.

The dark bay was previously demoted from first in the Handicap Jorge H. Iglesias, contested under the same handicap setup he faces here, after returning a positive test for Lasix—a stable error that cost him the win.

Chief among his rivals is Cornwall (Remote, 57.5), who gained prominence with his victory in the Clásico Fondistas Provinciales and most recently finished third, just two lengths behind standout Vundu (Suggestive Boy), in the Clásico Potrillón.

Another to consider is Jardín Secreto (Endorsement, 57), who comes off a tough conditional win at Palermo and had previously compiled a series of solid efforts, including a close second in the Clásico Malvinas Argentinas (L) and top-five finishes in both the Gran Premio de Honor (G1) and Gran Premio República Argentina (G1).

A notch below, Don Mártir (Il Campione, 53) brings upside, having won two of just five starts, the latest at 2000 meters against a competitive group.

The lighter-weighted quartet of Tambaqui (True Cause, 54.5), Mirame Spring (Greenspring, 50.5), Iraqi (Seek Again, 50.5), and Southern Secret (Southern Cat, 52.5) will look to spring an upset.