Led by the powerful group 1-winning entry of Natan, Happy Happy Day, and Jazz Seiver, a 14-horse field has been entered for 1 1/2-mile Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional (G1) Dec. 16 at Hipodromo de San Isidro outside Buenos Aires.
The winner of South America’s most prestigious race will earn a fees-paid automatic berth in next year’s $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In. A travel allowance is also awarded.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which are scheduled to be held on Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar in Del Mar, Calif.
The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional is the first Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race of the 2024 season.
Natan, trained by Juan Manuel Etchechoury, is the likely top-rated runner of the Stud Las Monjitas-owned trio based on his two group 1 victories over the course. A 4-year-old son of Senor Candy, he won the 2022 Jockey Club (G1). This year, Natan has won once in three starts, taking the 1 1/4-mile Estrellas Classic (G1) by 1 1/2 lengths over Jazz Seiver. In his most recent start, he was third in the Oct. 7 Gran Premio Latino Americano (G1) at San Isidro, making a strong rush from far back to finish three lengths behind the winner.
On the same Oct. 7 card at San Isidro, Happy Happy Day, also trained by Etchechoury, made a bold statement in just his fourth start, winning the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club for 3-year-olds. A son of Hi Happy , who won the Carlos Pellegrini in 2015, Happy Happy Day finished third in the Dos Mil Guineas (G1) in the race before his Jockey Club win.
The 4-year-old Jazz Seiver finished sixth in last year’s race. Trained by Daniel Bordon, Jazz Seiver, a son of 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver , won the 2022 Dos Mil Guineas and opened this year winning the listed Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo and the 1 1/2-mile Porteno (G3), both at San Isidro. However, he has lost his last four races, including his most recent start, a fourth-place finish behind Treasure Island and Pepe Joy in the 1 1/2-mile Copa de Oro-Alfredo Lalor (G1) at San Isidro.
Other Contenders
Treasure Island, owned by Stud Bien de Abajo and trained by Nicolas Martin Ferro, has been consistent during the past year, finishing first or second in eight of his last nine races, and third in the other race. A son of Treasure Beach , Treasure Island won six races during that streak, including a last-out, four-length win in the Nov. 4 Copa de Oro-Alfredo Lalor.
Two additional Carlos Pellegrini threats include Pepe Joy and No Fear.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
