The Mile on Fire: El Exito Seeks Redemption at His Favorite Track

At Palermo, the Il Campione colt will aim to add his second G1 victory of the year and erase the disappointment of 2024 against a tough and deep group

El Exito seeks his fifth consecutive win of 2025 at Palermo. / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The Gran Premio Estrellas Mile (G1-1600m, dirt, ARS 37,000,000 to the winner) will provide one of the most thrilling moments of the day this Saturday at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo. A truly spectacular race is expected at the middle distance, with El Exito aiming to reaffirm his dominance in the division while seeking a personal measure of revenge. As in 2024, his connections paid the hefty supplementary fee to secure a spot in the gate, though this time they hope for a different outcome.

The son of Il Campione entered as a heavy favorite after dominating the first half of the Buenos Aires season, but the turf at Hipódromo de San Isidro put a stop to his ambitions and ended his winning streak. Coming into this race, circumstances are quite similar, with the main contender boasting four consecutive wins, including a commanding triumph in the Gran Premio de las Américas – OSAF (G1) on May 1.

Although no rival has seriously challenged him this season, nothing will come easy for El Exito, who will face a large field brimming with top-class talent.

Among his challengers is Earth God (Cosmic Trigger), winner of the 2024 Gran Premio San Isidro (G1), making his first start on dirt at Libertador y Dorrego after a couple of underwhelming performances this year that suggested he is off his peak.

The pace is expected to be fast, with Preston Boss (Holy Boss) and El Patio (Il Campione) among the early leaders, along with rising star Talented Hit (Hit It a Bomb), the returning Qué Tarde Gris (Il Campione), and Folie Ninja, last year’s winner of this race, though he is more effective on turf than dirt.

Don Rocky (Equal Stripes) has shown signs of improvement; Bequepingo (Cityscape) is trying to return to his best form; and Descamisado (Cosmic Trigger) is a horse from whom good things are always expected. In sum, this promises to be an unmissable Mile showdown.