Tight Finish and Unfinished Business in the Clásico Lamadrid

Camuflaje Eyes Revenge, Hiran Looks to Regain Form, and El Romancero Dreams of Another Late Surge; A Wide-Open 1000-Meter Turf Dash in the North

This time, Camuflaje aims to celebrate without company… / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Another routine day of lower-tier racing for older horses is on tap this Wednesday at San Isidro Racecourse, highlighted by the Clásico Lamadrid (L), a 1000-meter turf handicap run just days before Palermo’s Clásico Paraguay (G3) and shortly after the Ocurrencia (G3) over the same distance on the Jockey Club grass.

The field of seven brings together several protagonists from a few weeks ago in the Clásico Necochea (L), where El Romancero (Il Campione, 54 ½ kg) dead-heated with Camuflaje (Orpen, 60 kg), while Hirán (Santillano, 60 ½ kg), Filoso Class (Filoso Emperor, 59 kg), and Mario’s Rim (Remote, 53 ½ kg) crossed in fourth, fifth, and sixth, separated by just 4 ¾ lengths overall.

How the story will unfold this time is hard to predict, given the pronounced parity in straight-course sprints at the northern track—at least until the top sprinters move on from Palermo, where they mostly compete against each other.

Camuflaje, breaking from the outside, appears well-positioned to assert himself early, though Hirán, now starting from post three, likely won’t be far behind, aiming to improve on his previous underwhelming effort.

El Romancero will again rely on his late-running style, but starting from post two complicates matters. Jockey Kevin Banegas will likely angle outward as soon as an opportunity arises to replicate his previous finish.

Filoso Class has been running under the radar but deserves mention—he edged out Hirán by a neck in March, with Camuflaje a length back in third, in the Clásico Eduardo Jara.

Rounding out the compact field are Mario’s Rim, Front Rimout (Remote, 50 ½ kg), and Opreso (Endorsement, 52 ½ kg).