The Gladiator’s Hat Takes on the Distance Test, Eyes San Isidro Dirt Gold

Hat Ninja Colt Steps Up in Trip to Face Seasoned Stayers in Handicap Jorge H. Iglesias

The Gladiator’s Hat Targets First Stakes Victory / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Typical Wednesday fare awaits at San Isidro, where stayers will take center stage in the day’s feature, the Jorge H. Iglesias Handicap, held in honor of the late longtime executive. The 2400-meter test over the dirt course is open to 3-year-olds and older.

With Tiznow Forever (Midshipman) a late scratch, just five runners remain, most of whom bring solid credentials at the higher levels.

The moment may be right for The Gladiator’s Hat to break through with a first stakes victory, as the Hat Ninja colt continues to trend upward. Though he'll be stretching out farther than ever, his current form gives cause for optimism.

Carrying 55.5 kilos, The Gladiator’s Hat rattled off three straight wins over 2000 meters on turf before finishing a solid second—just two lengths behind Operístico (Daddy Long Legs)—in the Full Sail Handicap, run at 1800 meters.

His main rivals include El Pulque (Heliostatic, 55.5) and Touch the Stars (Fortify, 59.5), both of whom failed to fire in the G1 Gran Premio 25 de Mayo, finishing seventh and last, respectively, beaten 19 1/2 and 46 1/2 lengths.

Prior to that, El Pulque had compiled a solid résumé, including a third in the Clásico Calidoscopio and a runner-up finish—2 1/2 lengths behind Out of the Blue (Brz, Drosselmeyer)—in the G3 Clásico Porteño. Dropping in class, he looks poised to bounce back.

Touch the Stars, meanwhile, returned from a long layoff in the May 25 feature, a race in which he had nearly upset the ill-fated Full Keid (Full Mast) a year earlier. Representing Stud Roque Alberto, he deserves another look with that comeback under his belt.

The lone filly in the field, Flavie (Seahenge, 55), takes on the boys with an affinity for distance and a last-out third to Herd Immunity (Forge) in La Plata’s Clásico México.

Rounding out the field is Gadzooks (Galán de Cine, 54.5), most recently fourth in Palermo’s Malvinas Argentinas (L), won by Holy Holy Rim (Remote).