Treasure Island Returns to La Plata With Eyes Back on the Rocha

The Winner of Last Year’s Biggest Southern Season Race is Entered for the Clásico Federación Argentina de Jockey Clubes e Hipódromos

Treasure Island Defeating Crazy Talent in the 2024 Rocha / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

LA PLATA.- Entries were taken Friday for the next three upcoming race cards at Hipódromo de La Plata, with no major stakes on the immediate schedule but highlighted by the presence of G1 winner Treasure Island (Treasure Beach), who appears set to launch his autumn campaign towards the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha (G1) on November 19.

The most significant feature will come Tuesday, July 29, with the Clásico Federación Argentina de Jockey Clubes e Hipódromos for four-year-olds and up under weight-for-age conditions over 2200 meters, often used as a prep towards La Plata’s signature event.

Seventeen runners are listed as probable, headlined by Treasure Island, last year’s Rocha hero, who is trained by Nicolás Martín Ferro. Potential challengers include Sofware (Treasure Beach), Look Portal (Portal del Alto)—a stablemate of Treasure Island—alongside Che Banquero (Greenspring) and Boyero Spring (Greenspring).

Other entries include Best Portal (Portal del Alto), Buen Escocés (Bodemeister), Davalos (Hi Happy), El Estanciero(Fire Slam), Estibador (Il Campione), Gallop Rabid (Rabid In the Rye), In Fraganti Scat (Knockout), Mio Fratello(Long Island Sound), Mister Coquette (Bodemeister), Preludio Lento (Daddy Long Legs), Señor Importante(Fortify), and Tambaqui (True Cause).

The southern week will begin Sunday, July 27, featuring a potential stakes doubleheader with the Especial La Plata Capital (1400m) for four-year-olds and up, and the Especial Wanna Dance (1400m) for mares five and older, both restricted to horses with three or more wins.

Storm Sound (Hi Happy) tops the weights in the La Plata Capital with 62kg and could face Aroma Rim (Remote, 52), Edification (Il Campione, 54), El Emporio (Il Campione, 54), El Ernesto (Señor Candy, 60), Equal Romano (Equal Legítimo, 52), Es Aristocrático (Angiolo, 54), Glorioso Rim (Remote, 52), Le Massif (Le Ken, 56), Notable Island(Lizard Island, 54), Payucano (Mask, 54), Arcanum (Horse Greeley, 54), and Ridge Prince (Strategic Prince, 52).

In the Especial Wanna Dance, Che Mamita (Safety Check) is set to carry topweight if confirmed. Her potential rivals include Funny Polly (Aerosol, 52), Furiosa Vis (Furious Key, 54), Gala de Gris (Galán de Cine, 52), Genta(Nashville Texan, 52), Illa Alegre (Sabat Husson, 58), Ingres (Galicado, 56), Jalimba (Señor Candy, 54), Mi Negra Paula (Reflecting, 54), Preservada (Manipulator, 54), and Queen Longines (Long Island Sound, 54).

Thursday, July 31, will feature the Handicap Haras Don Florentino, a 1000-meter sprint for older horses with three or more wins. Le Massif has been assigned highweight of 60.5kg, half a kilo more than Yukon Jack (Remote). Other entries include Cántaros Song (Alcindor, 58.5), La de Dudi (Aspire, 54), Manso Azteca (Empire Aztec), Muy Muy Seguro Chuck (Chuck Berry, 57), Oro Azteca (Empire Aztec, 56.5), Viejos Tiempos Mask (Mask, 57.5), Wave Rimout (Remote, 55), Beat Me (Cosmic Trigger, 54), and Mactas (Empire Aztec, 55).