Breeders' Cup Start on the Line in Gran Premio Pamplona

Stud El Castillo's Esperanza Blanca and Stud Ehden's Sissy Chanel, the first two finishers in the Clasico Republica Argentina (G3), lead 14 starters in the June 26 Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) at Hipodromo Monterrico in Peru. The Gran Premio Pamplona winner will receive an automatic berth into this year's $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

Esperanza Blanca, bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, is a 4-year-old chestnut daughter of Grey Swallow . In the May 29 Republica Argentina, Esperanza Blanca, trained by David Prieto Olivera, came from fourth place inside the final furlong and wore down her rivals in deep stretch to finish a length ahead of Sissy Chanel. That was her fourth career victory and her first triumph in four starts this year. In her three previous stakes races in 2021, she finished third and then had two runner-up placings. Victor Salazar will ride Esperanza Blanca, breaking from post 7.

Sissy Chanel, bred in Kentucky by Azienda Agricola Valle Falcone, was Peru's champion turf mare of 2020. Sissy Chanel also has an impressive Breeders' Cup pedigree: A 4-year-old chestnut daughter of Tapizar   out of Passing By, by Raven's Pass. Trained by Juan Suarez Villarroel, Sissy Chanel won four consecutive turf races last year at Monterrico, culminating with a 1 1/4-length triumph in the nine-furlong Clasico Mary July in October. She began this year with a second-place finish to Grenas in the Clasico Ala Moana Jan. 29, but returned March 27 and posted a 2 1/2-length victory over Esperanza Blanca in the 1 1/4-mile Clasico Ernesto Ayulo Pardo. A winner of six races in nine turf starts, Sissy Chanel will be ridden by Martin Chuan from post 3.

The 7-year-old Grenas, a homebred of Haras Los Azahares, has won 10 races. A gray daughter by Meal Penalty out of Belle Breeze, by Powerscourt , Grenas comes into the race off a victory by a head in the Clasico Sambi at Monterrico May 12. Trained by Andres Arredondo Armas, the Sambi win came after four consecutive defeats following her triumph in the Ala Moana. Ronald Ramos has the mount on Grenas, breaking from post 1.

Stud Arriba Arequipa's gray/roan 3-year-old Reina de Mollendo has won three of her five starts for trainer Luis Olivares Otero, but will be stepping back into stakes company following two easy allowance sprint victories over the course. A filly by Mastercraftsman , Reina de Mollendo finished second by 1 1/4 lengths to stablemate Salmation in an allowance contest May 28, which was her most recent start. Miguel Vilcarima will ride Reina de Mollendo from post 10.

Stud El Herraje's 3-year-old Salmation, Peru's 2020 champion turf 3-year-old filly, captured the Clasico Oscar Berckemeyer Pazos (G3) last October. After three defeats this year, Salmation, also trained by Olivares Otero, returned to the winner's circle with back-to-back allowance scores May 1 and May 28 at Monterrico. Salmation will be ridden by Carlos Herrera from post 5.

Another intriguing starter, making her turf debut after six races on dirt, is Stud Augusta's 3-year-old Quinta Nota. Bred in Kentucky by Charles Fipke, this dark bay or brown daughter of Tale of Ekati   won the 1 1/4-mile Clasico Enrique Ayulo Pardo (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths last October in her second start. Trained by Alfonso Arias Rodriguez and ridden from post 14 by Roy Melgarejo, Quinta Nota lost her next three races before capturing the 1 1/8-mile Clasico Portadora by 3 1/2 lengths on May 21.