Breeders' Cup Turf Spot on Line in Carlos Pellegrini

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Photo: Breeders' Cup

Led by multiple group 1-winning 5-year-old Sixties Song, a standout field of 19 has been entered for the $319,394 Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (G1)—South America's most prestigious race—at San Isidro Racecourse Dec. 15, with the winner receiving an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of more than 85 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the 1 1/2-mile Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini to start in the Breeders' Cup Turf, run at the same distance. Breeders' Cup will also provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. If not Breeders' Cup-eligible, the Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.

The Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini is the first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race of 2019. The early date allows the winner more preparation time for the World Championships.

Owned by Stud Savini, Sixties Song signaled a return to the form that brought him victory in the 2016 Carlos Pellegrini when he won the 1 1/2-mile Copa de Oro (G1) by two lengths over Stivers Oct. 27 at San Isidro. The win was his first start for trainer Nicolas Gaitan, who took over the horse's conditioning from Alfredo Dassie. Sixties Song, a bay son of Sixties Icon out of Blissful Song, by Unbridled's Song, won the Copa de Oro in his second start this year since a 12th-place finish in last December's Carlos Pellegrini.

Sixties Song finished sixth of nine horses in his 2018 debut in the 1 1/2-mile Gran Premio General San Martin (G1) at Palermo Sept. 1. Ridden by Pablo Falero, Sixties Song has won five of 11 races on turf. Following his win in the 2016 Carlos Pellegrini, he took the Gran Premio Latino Americano (G1) at Valparaiso in Chile in March 2017 but was not the same horse that summer, trailing the field in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

Following two off-the-board finishes back in Argentina, he was given time off to recuperate and appears to be his old self again.

Prior to his recent runner-up finish in the General San Martin, in which he closed from 11th place, the 5-year-old Stivers, owned by Las Monjitas and trained by Juan Carlos Etchechoury, won two races this year, including an eight-length win in the 1 1/2 mile Grand Premio Portento (G3) at San Isidro in April. A gray/roan son of Lasting Approval, Stivers was also second in the group 2 Chacabuco at Palermo July 13, also at 12 furlongs. 

Two 3-year-olds offer intriguing prospects for Saturday's race. Las Mojitas's Glorious Moment, also trained by Etchechoury, comes in with a solid win in the  Nov. 3 Classico de la Povinicia de Buenos Aires (G3) at about 12 furlongs, scoring by two lengths at San Isidro in his sixth start. The dark bay son of Treasure Beach  broke his maiden by six lengths in his prior effort.

In just his fourth start, De Mas de Dos's For the Top won the 1 1/2 mile Grand Prix Nacional (Argentine Derby, G1) Nov. 16 at Palermo by five lengths on the dirt. Trained by Gustavo Romero, For the Top is a dark bay colt by Equal Stripes out of the Bernstein mare Stormy Martyr. Prior to the Nacional, For the Top broke his maiden Oct. 1 by a half-length at Palermo. The Carlos Pellegrini will be For the Top's first start on turf.

The 4-year-old Alampur, a dark bay son of Catcher In The Rye, won the Dec. 2 Grand Prix Dardo Rocha (G1) at about 12 furlongs at La Plata for trainer Jorge Mayansky.

The 6-year-old Cosmico Romano is scheduled to make his 43rd start Saturday and arrives with two wins in his last three starts for trainer Aldaberto Ravassa. A bay son of Cosmic, Cosmico Romano went wire-to-wire to win the about 1 3/4-mile General Pueyrredon (G3) at San Isidro over a heavy course back in August.