The Top Female Sprinters Clash in the Clásico Venezuela
Nine fillies and mares have been entered for next week's feature event at the main venues, scheduled to be decided on Monday, October 26
In just a few days, the list of contenders for the Gran Premio Nacional (G1) and its spectacular festival card will be revealed. In the meantime, Hipódromo de Palermo has set its sights on organizing its next two race programs, scheduled for Monday the 26th and Thursday the 29th of this month.
The most significant action will arrive on the first of those dates, when female sprinters square off in one of the season's most important divisional clashes in the Clásico Venezuela (G2), run over 1000 meters on the dirt.
The entry list reached 9, featuring two 3-year-old fillies: Amiguita Casual (Todo Un Amiguito) and Pasión del Alma Pass (Distinctiv Passion). However, the highest expectations come from the older contingent, led by high-profile names such as La Bella Otero (Daddy Long Legs), Lissette Island (Lizard Island), Enjoy Dancing (Hi Happy), Roshita (Gouverneur Morris), Vieja Amiga Mask (Mask), Tartana Frank (Gidu), and Filha (Nashville Texan).
Sprint racing will also take center stage on Thursday the 29th, though the Clásico Aristophanes (1000 m, dirt), open to 4-year-olds and up under weight-for-age conditions, is causing some headaches for the Racing Office.
Only 4 entries were received—an exceptionally small lineup for a division that rarely lacks hopefuls or ambitions. As a result, only Ask for Wild (Angiolo), Chuck Spring (Chuck Berry), Exclamación Pass (Distinctiv Passion), and Rey de la Calle (Che Micky) appear on the preliminary list.
The Buenos Aires track authorities decided to reopen entries for the Aristophanes to bolster the field, a scenario similar to last week's Clásico The Japan Racing Association (L), which ultimately met the required minimum.
Over at Hipódromo de San Isidro, racing will take place on Friday the 23rd and Wednesday the 28th of this month, though without stakes races on either card.
This Friday, the feature attraction will be the Handicap Alan Breck (1600 m, turf), for horses 4 years old and up. A total of 17 probables have been entered, with Grand Canyon (Long Island Sound) assigned the top weight of 60 kilos. The race could mark the return to action for graded stakes winner Forgging (Forge, 58 1/2), alongside other stakes-tested entries including G1 winner Folie Ninja (Hat Ninja, 55 1/2), Preston Boss (Holy Boss, 57 1/2), Storm Sound (Hi Happy, 59 1/2), Tryman (Safety Check, 58), and Viejo Varieté (Qué Vida Buena, 57 1/2).
On Wednesday the 28th, the focal point will be the Handicap Final Meeting (1200 m, dirt), for horses 5 years old and up, where topweight honors went to El Mejor Recuerdo (Il Campione), who was assigned a staggering 62 1/2 kilos.
Hiran (Santillano, 61) and Rugiente (Il Campione, 60 1/2) are among the other notable names in the field of 17 prospective runners.
