El Éxito aims for another classic win over the mile distance, looking to head into the OSAF with full confidence

The son of Il Campione faces Fiolo Boss, Black Stripes, Easy Way Out, and Enloqueceme in Clásico El Virtuoso (G3)

El Éxito eclipses Fiolo Boss in the final stretch of the Clásico Good Manners / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The intense rainfall in recent days has been nothing short of impressive, and while the forecast predicts a slight easing of the weather by the afternoon, nothing will prevent the dirt track at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo from turning into a quagmire this Monday. With the first race scheduled for 14:30, there will be 14 races decided, with the main event being the Clásico El Virtuoso (G3, 1600m), the pathway to the Gran Premio de las Américas - OSAF (G1) on May 1st.

With only five confirmed entries, the day's feature promises a high-class spectacle, with El Éxito looking to confirm his return to top form after winning the Clásico Good Manners just over three weeks ago.

A hero of the 2024 OSAF, the chestnut from Stud F. Enrique lowered his guard a bit after that performance, with a long break in between, but recently defeated Fiolo Boss (Holy Boss) by five lengths without needing to exert maximum effort, finishing with ease.

Fiolo Boss will once again be in the way of the favorite, and it will be interesting to see if the track conditions allow him to turn around a decisive result, as he was second to champion and US G1 winner Subsanador (Easing Along) in this race two years ago.

Also in the starting gates is the rising 3-year-old Black Stripes (Equal Stripes), with Francisco Leandro confirmed to ride. He brings recent form, including two conditional victories at Palermo, the most recent by three lengths over Concord (Remote), who later exacted revenge.

Easy Way Out (Il Campione) returns to the classic level, looking to leverage his considerable experience after finishing second to the inconsistent Torino Kiin Ha (Señor Candy) in the Handicap Dancing Moss.

The small group is rounded out by another 3-year-old, Enloqueceme (Fragotero), who just over a month ago finished a neck behind the consistent Husson Chuck (Chuck Berry) in the Clásico Oswaldo Aranha (L) at La Plata. Now back at his home track, where he is trained, he aims to make the next leap forward.