Hit Rouge Holds the Upper Hand in a Deep and Competitive Clásico Lord At War

The Hit It a Bomb colt will look to solidify his reputation around the turn as he tackles 1200 meters at San Isidro

Hit Rouge Gets in Light and Looks Poised to Shine / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The highlight of Wednesday’s card at Hipódromo de San Isidro comes in the form of the Clásico Lord At War (L, 1200m, dirt), a tribute to the phenomenal chestnut bred by Haras San Francisco de Pilar—a standout both on the track and at stud, where he excelled as a sire and broodmare sire.

Run over the northern oval’s main dirt track and open to 3-year-olds and up under handicap conditions, the race has attracted a strong field of nine, promising a quality contest.

Hit Rouge (57.5kg) shapes as the horse to beat. The Hit It a Bomb colt surged forward earlier this year with a win in the Listed Clásico Intendente Melchor Posse over Palermo’s turf, before finding only Garufa Mask (Mask) too strong when beaten five lengths in the Listed Clásico Asociación Argentina de Fomento Equino on soft local ground. Previously, he had scored back-to-back victories on the main track at Palermo, suggesting the switch back to dirt should only aid his cause.

Racing for Stud Los Raro, Hit Rouge will have to deal with the upwardly mobile Talento Emergente (Hurricane Cat, 56kg), who boasts three wins from four career starts and now makes his stakes debut with genuine upside. In his latest outing, he comfortably handled Txiringate (Lizard Island) by four lengths and enters here under the formidable Pauli-Borda-Sueldo banner, a team that’s been on fire of late.

El Paradigma (Il Campione, 56.5kg) failed to fire in the Fomento Equino, trailing the field, though his performance can be chalked up to the track condition. Prior to that effort, the Stud Mayflower runner had done little wrong and seems poised to rebound.

The veteran duo of Amigazo Mak (Maktub, 59kg) and the notably light-weighted Lunático Blues (Le Blues, 53.5kg) bring experience into the mix, while sophomore contenders like filly Gran Celestial (Il Mercato, 53.5kg) and colt Arcanum (Horse Greeley, 54.5kg) add intrigue with their proven ability to surprise.

Bambino Duke (Lenovo, 56kg) could be a pace factor from the start, while Suarium (Manipulator, 54.5kg) won’t be around just to make up the numbers.

All told, it’s a well-matched lineup for a race that should live up to its namesake's legacy.