The Gran Criterium and Gran Premio de Potrancas promise must-see showdowns on the road to the Carreras de las Estrellas

The major events for juveniles will play a central role on Monday’s program at Hipódromo de San Isidro

Cardo Castilla returns to the track where he captured the Chevalier Stakes / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The juveniles will occupy a prominent place on Monday’s Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) card at Hipódromo de San Isidro, through the Gran Premio Gran Criterium (G1-1600m, turf) and the Gran Premio de Potrancas (G1-1600m, turf), respectively for colts and fillies, and marking the first top-level turf events of the season for the new generation.

Each race will offer total prize money of 70,000,000 pesos, including 35,000,000 pesos to the winner.

The form from the Gran Premio Montevideo (G1) will carry major influence into the Gran Criterium, highlighted by another clash between Cardo Castilla (Strategos)—winner here of the Clásico Raúl y Raúl E. Chevalier (G2)—and fellow Montevideo runners Paulo Sil (Treasure Beach) and Desert Voice (Dabster), all returning from their May 1 showdown at Palermo.

Also adding intrigue is Don Pacto (Pneumatic), winner of the José B. Zubiaurre, alongside promising names such as Happy Angel (Hi Happy), Hi Pocho (Hi Happy), Kyprios (Hi Happy), Lunático Bomb (Hit It a Bomb), Pancho Gío (Caravaggio), Roi du Monte (Treasure Beach), Stay Tune (Fortify), and Teobaldo (Uncle Chuck).

In total, the field will feature 12 runners.

As for the Gran Premio de Potrancas, the spotlight centers on the showdown between the two standout juvenile fillies seen so far among the major races.

On one side stands the unbeaten Gota Clara Sos (Made You Look), heroine of the Clásico Eliseo Ramírez (G2) at San Isidro.

On the other is Gran Gotera (Made You Look), who comes off a breakthrough victory in the Gran Premio Jorge de Atucha (G1) over Palermo’s dirt.

The group of 15 confirmed fillies is completed by Achispada (Have At It), Deep Feeling (Seahenge), Fly Cast (Made You Look), Full Question (Full Mast), Gunakali (King Guillermo), Hi Intense (Hi Happy), Inter Bombaza (Hit It a Bomb), Just Dance (Daniel Boone), Live Your Life (Dabster), Mani Girl (Daddy Long Legs), Salema (Il Mercato), Tarea Fácil (Fortify), and Unica Forma (Full Mast).

Each race will also include a 1,000,000-peso Estrellas Plus Bonus for the highest-finishing horse among the top three positions that is enrolled in the Carreras de las Estrellas program.

Owners were required to pay an entry fee of 1,260,000 pesos, and every juvenile had to clear mandatory anti-doping testing with negative results.

Post positions will be drawn virtually later this afternoon.