Sarzana Pass Returns to the Straight in the Especial Gay Hermit

The El Alfalfar filly sharpens her focus on pure speed as she looks to get back to winning ways

Sarzana Pass comes off a second-place finish in the Unzué, over 1200 meters / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The double-featured event on the exciting program at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo this Wednesday will kick off with the Especial Gay Hermit (1000m, dirt), for 2-year-olds, beginning to shape up the speed specialists from the 2022 generation. With five runners confirmed, the standout is the filly Sarzana Pass (Distinctiv Passion), who takes a step back in distance after finishing second, well behind Roshita (Gouverneur Morris) in the Saturnino J. Unzué (G2), over 1200 meters.

Previously, under the same conditions as today, she dominated the Clásico Carlos Casares (G3) by 3 lengths, defeating her stablemate and half-sister Verdadera Pass. With an ideal outside draw, the El Alfalfar filly will need to watch out for what Vendaval Joy (Roman Joy) can do from the inside. The latter won the Clásico Nueva Generación by 3 lengths and then finished five lengths behind Takeshi Frank (Gidu) in the Clásico Criadores Argentinos del Sangre Pura de Carrera (L), both times at La Plata.

Secreto a Voces (Springdom) took third place in her last outing, and on the San Isidro turf, she beat Full a Más (Full Mast) by 5 lengths. The question mark lies in her only appearance on Palermo’s dirt, where she finished sixth, so we'll need to confirm or reaffirm her ability on this surface.

After a successful debut up north, Black Happy (Hi Happy) finished fourth, 8 lengths behind Sarzana Pass in the Casares, and will be looking for revenge, although significant improvement will be required. Antiguo Secreto (Angiolo), victorious in his fifth outing down south, completes the small field of participants.