Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl awakened enormous
expectations with her planned, then canceled, participation in Saturday’s Group
1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro, but her absence will not detract
from South America’s most important race.
With the filly’s absence, a field of 23 will face the starter and the lack of
a true standout among the bunch should make for an interesting and evenly
matched renewal. Es Richard carries a three-race winning streak into the about 1
1/2-mile test, including a Group 2 win over 15 furlongs in August and most
recently a 12-length victory over Blues for Me and Sin Respeto in the Group 3
Clasico Progreso over heavy ground on October 8.
“The horse is in great shape and we have the highest expectations,” said his
trainer Juio Penna, cousin of U.S. trainer Angel Penna Jr. “I hope for more
rain; that can only help his chances.”
The defection of Perfect Shirl leaves Jumbalaya as the field’s lone female
contestant, and she is certainly in with a chance on the strength of her win
over El Seriote in the Group 1 Gran Premio Copa de Oro going the Pellegrini
distance on November 11. Victorious in the Group 1 Estrellas Distaff this past
June, she will square off with another winner from that program in the form of
Group 1 Estrellas Classic hero Star Runner, who makes his first start in nearly
seven months this afternoon.
In the day’s supporting Group 1s, Curioso Slam rates the best chance in the
Joaquin S. de Anchorena going about eight furlongs, while Dona Ley could be the
one to beat in the about five-furlong Feliz de Alzaga Unzue. La Laguna Azul was
amazing when capturing the Group 1 Gran Premio Enrique Acebal by 15 lengths and
faces 2010 Mare of the Year Catch the Mad in the Copa de Plata over 10 furlongs.