For Pulp Fiction, the Time Has Come to Make His U.S. Debut

A winner of the 2024 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (G1) and now under the care of H. Graham Motion, Pulp Fiction is set to make her U.S. debut in Wednesday’s seventh race at Keeneland, an allowance optional claiming event going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, with Irad Ortiz Jr. named to ride

Pulp Fiction Scores in the Polla de Potrancas at Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Diego H. Mitagstein

The 2025 racing season is heating up, and for Argentine turf, hopes are high to notch major victories in the United States—whether through names already established or others just beginning to showcase their talent.

One of the most anticipated newcomers is Pulp Fiction, who is only hours away from making her North American debut, carrying a weight of expectations and looking to validate all the promise she showed back home.

A daughter of Daddy Long Legs bred by Haras Los Turfistas, Pulp Fiction is one of seven fillies and mares entered in Wednesday’s seventh race at Keeneland, an $80,000 allowance optional claiming event worth $130,000 in total purse, to be run over 1 1/16 miles on the dirt.

The bay filly, who will carry the colors of Resolute Racing, faces several challenges beyond just her first start stateside. She’ll be racing farther than ever before—having never gone beyond a mile in Argentina—though the added ground comes with the benefit of a two-turn configuration. It’s also worth noting she hasn’t raced since September.

Winner of the 2024 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (G1) at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, where she went wire-to-wire in an authoritative performance, Pulp Fiction now resides in the barn of H. Graham Motion, who welcomed her a few weeks ago after Ignacio Correas IV—her initial U.S.-based trainer—parted ways with John Stewart’s outfit.

Motion, a noted turf specialist, has tapped Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride the filly, signaling his intention to give her every chance to succeed. In morning training, Pulp Fiction has been handled lightly, recording six half-mile breezes according to Equibase, only two of which dipped below the 50-second mark.

In addition to her G1 score, Pulp Fiction also finished third in the Clásico Manuel J. Güiraldes (G3) and fourth in the Clásico General Luis María Campos (G2) at home. Wednesday’s assignment won’t come easy, as she’s set to face several rivals with strong credentials.

Among them is Landed, a daughter of Omaha Beach trained by Wesley Ward, who figures to be the morning-line favorite. A winner in five of her eight starts and never off the board, she returned to action with a victory in the Broadway Stakes (L) at Aqueduct. Last year, she also took the Fleet Indian Stakes (L) and the Bouwerie Stakes (L), both at Saratoga. Frankie Pennington will take the call.

Correas will still have a presence in the race with Little Jamie (Collected), a filly he took over recently. With José Ortiz named to ride, she was fourth last time out in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, following a win in the Wayward Lass Stakes (L) at Tampa Bay Downs. Her 2024 résumé also includes a runner-up effort in the Indiana Oaks (G3) and a third-place finish in the Monmouth Oaks (G3), proving she fits in against graded company.

Also entered is Indy Label (Tonalist), who will look to rebound after a subpar effort in the Trivista Overnight Stakes(L), hoping to rediscover the form that saw her run second in the Pippin Stakes (L), also at Oaklawn.

Rounding out the field are Chilled (Frosted), Cat’s Cave (Gondelcents) and Musical Note (Mendelssohn), all looking to step up and improve their résumés. Pulp Fiction will break from post 4, with each entrant set to carry 118 pounds.

Just hours away from her first U.S. appearance, Pulp Fiction stands as one of the brightest hopes for Argentine and South American racing in 2025—ready to write a new chapter on American soil.