The Juvenile Stakes Road Begins in the Congreve, Part of a Stellar card

Contested over the turf kilometer, this event marks the first stakes test for the new crop, serving as the centerpiece of a must-watch card

Sixties Pen Puts Undefeated Record on the Line in the Congreve / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

This is more like it. A superb program has been prepared for this Friday at Hipódromo de San Isidro, featuring turf, quality, an almost ideal number of races, and a better-positioned schedule, as it kicks off at 2 PM (a bit later would be ideal, but it’s a start...).

After many dates with little to report, the meeting at the Jockey Club Argentino’s venue will leave many stories to tell, primarily centered around the Clásico Congreve (L-1000m), which will offer the first stakes test for 2-year-olds on the turf straightaway.

With a very low winner's purse of 8,000,000 pesos, 7 are confirmed, and Mayan Goddess, the only filly in the field, stands out due to her credentials and how well she has looked in the mornings. Part of the already promising first crop by sire Made You Look (More Than Ready), the bay filly from the Marcelo Sueldo-Gonzalo Borda-Stud Paulitandem impressed in her early debut, defeating Juara (Storm Embrujado) by 4 lengths over 900 meters in 50.80 seconds. She has been flying in morning works, making her the preference over a field that includes three maidens.

Challenging her is Enter the Club (The Great Day), who won impressively in his Palermo debut and now arrives on the grass to keep his record immaculate. The La Plata-based runner prevailed that day by 2 1/2 lengths over Al Recreo (Angiolo) —who finished second again later— and Listen (Le Blues), a recent winner.

After finishing fourth in his debut, Lebron Blues (Le Blues) broke his maiden by a comfortable 5 lengths over Cadiz (Strategos), showing very interesting progression. Both will be in the gates now and will not be easy to overcome.

The other on the list with a victory to his name is Sixties Pen (Sixties Song), who opened his account with a narrow upset, boasting a pedigree that gave no indication he would excel so early or at such a short distance. That sign of quality means he must be respected to the fullest now.