Triple Crown Kicks Off at La Plata as Elenika Targets the Polla de Potrancas

The daughter of Winning Prize has been clearly dominating the local sophomore scene but now faces a field packed with high-risk challengers

Elenika enters off three consecutive graded stakes victories. / HLP

LA PLATA.- The most important stretch of the year for 3-year-olds at La Plata kicks off Tuesday with the G2 Clásico Polla de Potrancas, the first leg of the track’s Triple Crown—a series no sophomore has swept since Vilas Light (Light Cavalry) accomplished the feat back in 1992. Could the long drought finally come to an end? The answer may start to take shape in a small but intriguing six-horse lineup, though one filly is in doubt after racing just this past Saturday at Palermo.

Unstoppable in recent months over this track, Elenika returns in search of another moment of glory. The Winning Prizefilly enters riding a three-race graded win streak, having taken the G3 Andrés S. Torres, G2 Raúl Aristegui, and G2 Miguel Luis Morales, growing more dominant with each performance.

She’s clearly the one to beat—but far from unbeatable. Chief among her challengers is Forti Leaf (Fortify), who finished just a length behind Elenika when third in the Aristegui and then shipped to Palermo to capture the G3 Manuel J. Güiraldes, defeating Mi Confesión (Suggestive Boy), a next-out runaway winner of the Bayakoa (L) at San Isidro.

Two unbeaten shippers from the Buenos Aires circuit are out to spoil the party. Trainer Juan Saldivia sends out Cálida Sonrisa (Cosmic Trigger), who scored on debut by two lengths over Class Life (Fortify), while Omar Labanca takes a shot with Souq (Forge), a wire-to-wire winner of a restricted 1200-meter race at Libertador y Dorrego who now faces a major class and distance test.

Also worth watching is northern invader Sinfonía Latina (Señor Candy), who looked sharp winning locally over 1400 meters in her first try over the course, clearly pointed to this target.

Rounding out the field is My Pride (Daddy Long Legs), who was a distant fourth last time out in the G2 General Luis María Campos and is unlikely to start.

The Polla de Potrancas launches La Plata’s Triple Crown—and with it, the dreams of glory. The most decisive stage of the season is officially underway.