Honor, Lerena and Villanueva Set the Stage for a Formidable Saturday

Need You Tonight, Romana Craf, and El Exito Stand Out as Contenders in the Three Featured Races at Palermo

Need You Tonight, Rising Colt on the Rise / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo will host an exceptional day this Saturday, featuring 17 races, with a highlight on the prestigious Gran Premio de Honor (G1-2000m, dirt) and Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (G1-2200m, turf), along with the Clásico Benito Villanueva (G2-1600m, dirt). These races will serve as important steps leading to the upcoming Gran Premio República Argentina (G1) on May 1st.

The fillies will have the responsibility of delivering the first major spectacle of the day in the Lerena, a race that promises to be competitive but where Romana Craf (Mastercraftsman) stands out as a deserving contender.

For the Tramo 20 mare, it's time to return to action after a remarkable performance last December in the Gran Premio Copa de Plata (G1) at San Isidro, where she finished second, just two lengths behind Brienne Trigger (Cosmic Trigger).

Her task will not be easy, as she will face Presencial (Suggestive Boy), who finished third in the Pellegrini de las Yeguas not far behind, and will also be returning to the track, along with Ceniza Pampa (Hat Ninja), who completed the podium in the Bullrich (G2) on dirt but has always seemed to perform a little better on turf.

The milers will turn their focus to the OSAF (G1) with the Villanueva, where El Exito (Il Campione) will attempt to continue his excellent form, aiming for a third consecutive victory and a successful defense of his title in the mile feature on Labor Day.

Storm Sound (Hi Happy), unstoppable in La Plata, will seek to bring his good form to the capital, always a contender from the start. Meanwhile, the colt Holy Joy (Fortify) returns after a 182-day break, back at the venue where he won the Montevideo (G1) nearly a year ago.

The icing on the cake will come with the Gran Premio de Honor (G1), where Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja) will try to confirm his stunning victory in the Clásico Otoño (G2), now stepping up in class against more challenging rivals.

Cuan Chef (Daddy Long Legs) and Treasure Island (Treasure Beach) claimed the Nacional (G1) and Dardo Rocha(G1) last season, but both returned empty-handed from Uruguay, where they faltered in the Ramírez (G1) and are now looking to bounce back.

The consistent Crazy Talent had a fantastic 2024, ending it with a superb fourth-place finish behind Intense for Me(Fortify) in the Pellegrini, but after returning in the Martínez de Hoz (G1), he finished third behind Grezzo (Hi Happy). Having sharpened his form, the horse trained by Miguel Suárez is likely to deliver another solid performance.