The Gran Premio de las Américas Within Reach Once More for El Exito

The Son of Il Campione Looks to Cap a Brilliant Early Season with Repeat Score in the Race He Already Won in 2024

El Exito Is in a Terrific Run of Form / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

One of the standout performers scheduled to grace the stage at Palermo during the blockbuster Gran Premio República Argentina (G1) meeting is El Exito, who will look to defend his title in the G1 Gran Premio de las Américas - OSAF, a race he won with authority 12 months ago.

Virtually untouchable of late, the son of Il Campione is in the midst of a dazzling run, and now eyes a fourth consecutive victory to cap a brilliant opening phase of the 2024 season. After a quiet spell, the Stud F. Enrique homebred returned to winning ways in the Clásico Good Manners, followed that effort up with a sharp performance in the G3 Clásico El Virtuoso, and then solidified his top-level credentials with a dominant score in the G2 Clásico Benito Villanueva.

Usually racing just off the pace before unleashing a decisive move, El Exito will once again be partnered by Francisco Leandro, whose main concern will be avoiding a speed duel up front with several pace-oriented runners entered.

Among them is Storm Sound (Hi Happy), who brings a strong recent résumé of his own. After racking up wins in the Especial Haras El Paraíso and a pair of G3s at La Plata—Fortunato Novara and Vilas Light—he returned to Palermo to finish second, four lengths behind El Exito, in the Villanueva.

Likely to add further pace pressure is the talented sophomore Song Joy (Fortify), who makes the ambitious leap into graded stakes company from the allowance ranks.

Also exiting the Villanueva are Fiolo Boss (Holy Boss) and Easy Way Out (Il Campione), who finished third and fourth, respectively. Meanwhile, Folie Ninja (Hat Ninja), a turf specialist by nature, takes another crack at the dirt, while Descamisado (Cosmic Trigger), another 3-year-old, returns to stakes company off a confidence-boosting win.

A fast pace could set the table for the late-running veteran Safety Honour (Safety Check), who will be hoping for a collapse to showcase his powerful closing kick.