Vundu Sets Sights on Bigger Goals; Campo Verde and Lindo Tono Pass Ready for Round Three

Clásicos Potrillón and Propietarios (L) Headline the Afternoon at San Isidro, with Rain as the Unwelcome Guest

Vundu Looks to Regain Winning Form/ JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The Hipódromo de San Isidro is set to host its strongest meeting of the week this afternoon, though a key question remains: will racing take place on the turf or shift entirely to the dirt? Rain fell overnight, and more precipitation is in the forecast throughout the day.

The black-type portion of the program offers a compelling double feature with the Clásico Propietarios (Listed–1000m) and the Clásico Potrillón (2000m). The former is restricted to 3-year-olds, while the latter welcomes older horses and carries added importance, being one of two races the Jockey Club Argentino will use as reference points in selecting its representative for the upcoming G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano, to be held in October at Gávea Racecourse in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Potrillón will be run first and features the return of the talented but fragile Vundu (Suggestive Boy), who headlines the field. Representing Stud Gran Ascochinga, the dark bay captured the G1 Gran Premio Estrellas Classic, the Listed Macon, and the Engrillado last season, but disappeared from the scene in late August. He reappeared over nine months later, finishing a strong second—two lengths behind Brazilian raider One Thing (Verrazano)—in the Clásico Forli.

Now sharper for that effort and with Martín Valle in the irons, the Nicolás Martín Ferro trainee appears ready to get back to winning ways.

Chief among his challengers is the hard-knocking veteran Don Tigre (Cityscape), another horse who’s had his share of physical setbacks. Despite multiple placings at this level, he’s only just returned from a five-month layoff with a solid effort in a conditioned event and looks poised to make his presence felt.

Later in the day, attention shifts to the 3-year-olds in the Clásico Propietarios, where familiar foes Campo Verde(Strategos) and Lindo Tono Pass (Distinctiv Passion) will renew their rivalry. They last met just over a month ago in the G3 Estrellas Junior Sprint, where Campo Verde bested his rival by 2 1/2 lengths over the dirt.

That win evened the score, as Lindo Tono Pass had previously gotten the better of Campo Verde on turf in the G3 Clásico Velocidad.

Adding intrigue is Secreto A Voces (Springdom), who flopped badly last time out when trailing the field in the Clásico Velocidad. That effort was a sharp contrast to his prior win in the Listed Clásico Islas Malvinas, where he edged Salando Las Heridas (Strategos) by a neck.

It promises to be a quality afternoon of racing at San Isidro—if the weather plays along.