There are 12 entries for the Martínez de Hoz, the first G1 of the year in Argentina

The Gladiator's Hat, Acento Final, El Encinal, and Forgging appear on the entry list for the race to be held on Saturday, February 7th, over 2,000 meters on the San Isidro turf

The Gladiator's Hat, the top-ranked Argentine in the Pellegrini/ JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The first major spectacle of the Argentine season has begun to heat up. Entries were taken this Monday for the Gran Premio Miguel A. Martínez de Hoz (G1-2,000 m, turf), to be held on Saturday, February 7th. This year's edition carries extra weight, as it will be one of the races used by the Jockey Club Argentino to nominate its representative for the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1), scheduled for April 26th at Monterrico, Peru.

The list of 12 probable participants brings together several of today's top turf stayers. This is the case for The Gladiator's Hat (Hat Ninja), hero of the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha (G1) in La Plata and the top-ranked Argentine in the last Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1), where he finished second to the Brazilian champion Obataye (Courtier).

Another strong contender is Acento Final (Treasure Beach), winner of the G1 Jockey Club, G1 General San Martín,and G1 Copa de Oro. He will be seeking redemption after a disappointing performance in "La Gran Final."

El Encinal (Il Campione) has just returned to the winner's circle here following a less-than-fruitful stint in the United States. He now aims to reclaim the glory that took him to the top when he won the 2023 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini.

Following his victory in the Clásico Tresiete (L), Forgging (Forge) skipped the Botafogo (G3) and now returns to the fray in pursuit of his first top-level success. Also expected at the starting gate are Pecado Original (Global Hunter) and Chelato (Cosmic Trigger), who dead-heated for first place in the aforementioned Botafogo.

Curious Song (Sixties Song), Full Keynote (Full Mast), Hit Colchonero (Hit It a Bomb), Neat Colt (Treasure Beach), the Brazilian Out of the Blue (Drosselmeyer), and Thor Medina (Mootasadir) round out the field.

The Gran Premio Miguel A. Martínez de Hoz will offer a total purse of 100,000,000 pesos, with 50,000,000 designated for the winner. The remaining payouts are: 17,500,000 for second, 10,000,000 for third, 6,500,000 for fourth, 5,500,000 for fifth, 4,500,000 for sixth, 3,500,000 for seventh, and 2,500,000 for eighth.

Declarations and jockey commitments will be accepted until noon on Monday, February 2nd, upon payment of a $1,800,000 entry fee—equivalent to the purse of an allowance race at San Isidro. As always, all entries must pass a pre-race drug test with a negative result.