Verde Pipian Headlines Gran Premio Criadores

Haras Pozo De Luna's homebred Verde Pipian and Firmamento's homebred Emerit Craf lead 12 fillies and mares in the May 1 Gran Premio Criadores (G1) run 1 1/4-miles on the dirt at Hipodromo de Palermo. A "Win and You're In" event, the winner of the Gran Premio Criadores will receive an automatic berth to the Nov. 4 $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. on Nov. 4-5.

Trained by Martin Ferro, the 3-year-old Verde Pipian has captured both of her starts this year, and is three of five overall. A daughter of Treasure Beach  out of Via Maya, by Easing Along, Verde Pipian opened 2022 with a 4-length win in a one-mile allowance race at San Isidro Feb. 5 and followed up that score by taking the Ricardo, Ezequiel, y Ezequiel M. Fernandez Guerrico (G2) by 1 1/2 lengths at San Isidro March 12. Eduardo Pavon will ride Verde Pipian.

Ferro will also start Haras Pozo De Luna's 4-year-old Son de La Negra, who has finished in the top three in all but one of her nine starts. Son de La Negra, a daughter of Portal Del Alto recently was third, defeated by 2 1/2 lengths, in the April 2 Gilberto Lerena Stakes (G1) on the turf at Palermo. William Pereyra will ride Son de La Negra.

Last year, Ferro trained Blue Stripe  to victory in the Gran Premio Criadores (G1), and with the "Win and You're In" berth Blue Stripe competed in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar, where she finished seventh.

Also coming out of the Gilberto Lerena is the 4-year-old Emerit Craf, who went off at 12-1 and finished second, two lengths behind Wild Ones. Trained by Nicolas Gaitan, Emerit Craf, by Mastercraftsman , has two wins in seven starts. In her second start of 2022, Emerit Craf finished second by three-quarters of a length to the opposing Moyvore Rose in the Feb. 5 Juan Shaw (G2) on the turf at San Isidro. Prior to her runner-up finish in the Gilberto Lerena, Emerit Craf was third in the March 5 Arturo R. y Arturo Bullrich Stakes (G2) on dirt at Palermo. Emerit Craf will be ridden by Rodrigo Blanco.

Although Moyvore Rose's victory in the Juan Shaw was her third career win, all her wins have come on the turf. Sunday's race will be her second start at Palermo after finishing fourth in last month's Gilberto Lerena, defeated by 2 1/2 lengths. Owned by Comalal and trained by Carlos Daniel Etchechoury, Moyvore Rose has made only one previous attempt on the dirt, finishing third in a maiden race last year. Brian Enrique will ride Moyvore Rose.

 As a part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Gran Premio Criadores to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. Breeders' Cup will also provide a US$40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 24 to receive the rewards.