The Jockey Club awaits final entries as Linguado could give the Triple Crown a top contender
Final entries will be confirmed this Monday for Saturday’s featured event at San Isidro, with the post-position draw scheduled for Tuesday; should Fletcher's positive test in the Polla de Potrillos be officially confirmed, runner-up Linguado would inherit the victory and, if re-entered, keep the local Triple Crown dream alive
SAN ISIDRO, Buenos Aires (Special for Turf Diario).— The local Triple Crown seemed to have lost its candidate, but the landscape could change. This Monday, when final entries are received for the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1-2,000 m, turf), the presence of Linguado will carry special significance: the runner-up in the Polla de Potrillos (G1) could be elevated to winner of that classic if Fletcher's positive test is confirmed and a disqualification is issued. Should that occur, and provided he pushes forward in the second leg, the series would regain a possibility that seemed all but extinct.
For now, everything remains conditional. Fletcher's status is pending resolution, and it remains to be seen which of the 15 3-year-olds nominated will be confirmed to compete on Saturday, October 3 at Hipódromo de San Isidro. However, the certainty that accompanied the close of nominations—that there would be no contender for the Crown—has shifted following news of the Polla's post-race drug test.
The son of Gershwin was not entered for the Jockey Club, as he was sold to continue his campaign in Saudi Arabia (though the exact status of that deal remains unclear). His absence had initially shut the door on finding a 2026 successor to Refinado Tom (Shy Tom), the last Argentine Triple Crown winner, in 1996. Thirty years after that sweep, the wait could hang by a thread of hope due to circumstances as unexpected as they are external to the track.
The first step will be taken this Monday with final entries. The next will come on Tuesday, when the post-position draw takes place and the race assumes its definitive shape, featuring the names that will take on one of the generation's most important milestones.
Linguado, a son of Cosmic Trigger, arrives backed by a consistency that established him among the top colts at Palermo. After breaking his maiden in his fifth start, he finished second in the Clásico Miguel Cané (G2) and repeated that placing in the Polla. Now two new challenges await him: switching from dirt to turf and stretching out from a mile to 2,000 meters. His potential status as a Triple Crown contender would add a whole new layer of intrigue to that test.
Also returning from the first leg are El Volka (Vekoma) and Autorretrato (Angiolo), third and fourth, respectively. For the latter, winner of the Polla de Potrillos (G3) at La Plata, final entries will also resolve a choice: he is nominated in both the Jockey Club and the Gran Premio San Isidro (G1-1,600 m, turf).
Among those who built their resume on grass, Stay Tune presents one of the strongest backgrounds. The son of Fortifywon on debut in a division of the Clásico Zubiaurre, finished second in the Gran Criterium (G1), and placed third in both the Carreras Estrellas Juvenile (G1) and the Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (G1). While still seeking his breakthrough win at the highest level, he knows the course and boasts extensive experience against the best of his crop.
Hi Pocho, meanwhile, brings the momentum of his victory in the Clásico Ensayo (G3) over 1,800 meters. The son of Hi Happy took a step forward there, proving that additional distance suited him. His status at final entries will also draw close attention following interest from overseas buyers.
The Ensayo field behind him included Sarraceno (Daddy Long Legs), Rugbier Boy (Suggestive Boy), and Redemption Song (Outstrip), who finished second, third, and fourth, respectively, and will now have an extra 200 meters to try to reverse that outcome.
The list of nominees is completed by El Cambiao (Imperador), already a winner over the local 2,000-meter turf course; Giannino (King Guillermo), Aki (Cima de Triomphe), Find Me (Pneumatic), In This Moment (Fortify), Tolve (Daddy Long Legs), and the maiden High City (Cityscape).
Saturday's showcase program will also feature the Gran Premio Suipacha (G1-1,000 m, turf) and the Gran Premio San Isidro, which attracted 15 and 9 nominees, respectively, alongside the Clásico Yatasto (G3-2,400 m, turf), for which entries close today. But this Monday, most eyes will be fixed on a single name.
If Linguado is confirmed, the possibility remains open that the Jockey Club will once again feature a Triple Crown contender in its starting gate. To know for sure, beyond final entries, the racing world awaits the final ruling in the Fletcher case.
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