Pinball Wizard Heads BC Qualifying Carlos Pellegrini

Led by multiple group 1-winning 5-year-old Pinball Wizard and the fast-closing 4-year-old Tetaze, winner of the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1), a standout field of 13 runners has been entered for the 1 1/2-mile Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini (G1) — South America's most prestigious race — Dec. 19 at Hipódromo de San Isidro. The winner will receive an automatic berth into the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini, which was first run in 1887, is the first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race of the 2021 season.

Owned by Haras Don Teodoro and trained by Jorge Mayansky Neer, Pinball Wizard won two group 1 races in October, among his four wins in nine starts on turf. A dark bay son of Orpen  out of Pink Pony by Pure Prize , Pinball Wizard scored a half-length victory in the Gran Premio General San Martin (G1) on Oct. 3 at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo and improved on that performance Oct. 31 when he dominated the Copa de Oro-Alfredo Lalor (G1) at San Isidro, crossing the wire five lengths in front in 2:25.34. As he was in his last two wins, Juan Cruz Villagra has the mount on Pinball Wizard, breaking from post 7.

Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on racing in Argentina, Egalite de 9's Tetaze will be making his first start since his biggest career score in March, when he won the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) at San Isidro by two lengths over a heavy turf course. Trained by Roberto Pellegatta, Tetaze, a bay son of Equal Stripes , will try to improve on his fifth-place finish in last year's Carlos Pellegrini. He will be ridden by Gustavo Calvente from post 11.

Haras El Angel de Venecia's 6-year-old Village King , a bay son of Campanologist  out of the Pleasant Tap  mare Villard , has enjoyed success in both Argentina and in the United States during his 15-race career. Trained by Carlos Etchechoury, Village King won three races in Argentina and finished third in the 2017 Carlos Pellegrini. He spent the following two years in the U.S. under the care of trainer Todd Pletcher, making eight starts. He won the Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in 2018 and finished third in the 2019 Pan American Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.

After an eighth-place finish in the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park in May 2019, Village King was returned to Argentina and was back racing on Oct. 10 of this year, winning the Progreso (G3) at San Isidro, going wire-to-wire in an eight-length victory. In his last start, the Copa de Oro, he gained the lead into the stretch, but was no match for Pinball Wizard, finishing five lengths behind the winner. Village King will be ridden by Brian Enrique from post 3.

Emotion Orpen, Rohit Joy, and Cool Day complete the field.