Turf Berth On The Line in GP 25 de Mayo

Ordak Dan (Arg) (Hidden Truth), victor of the 2013 G1 Gran Premio 25 de Mayo, will bid to earn a second trip to the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf as the headliner among 15 horses entered for this year’s edition of the race on Monday at San Isidro. The 6-year-old, who was sidelined after defeating two eventual G1 Carlos Pellegrini winners in Soy Carambolo (Val Royal) and Going Somewhere (Brz) (Sulamani) when scoring an upset win in the 2013 edition of the race, is rounding back into top form, as evidenced by his runner-up effort in the 2000 meter G1 Gran Premio Miguel Alfedo Martinez de Hoz over the course earlier this season. South America’s winningest jockey, Brazilian Jorge Ricardo, has the assignment for new trainer Juan Carlos Etchechoury Jr. 

Ordak Dan’s biggest challenge may come from recent G1 Gran Premio Republica Argentina winner Rio Vettel (Arg) (True Cause), who is unbeaten in two starts on dirt this season and will try to transfer his good form on the lawn. Other contenders include this season’s G1 Miguel Alfredo Martinez de Hoz winner Alma de Acero (Arg) (Versallesco {Arg}), who will be seeking his sixth straight win; Group 1 winner Ecologo (Arg) (Easing Along), conditioned by four-time 25 de Mayo winning trainer Alfredo Gaitan Dassie; and Forever Sale (Arg) (Not For Sale {Arg}), hero of the Gran Premio de Honor in April at Palermo. 

“This is a very historic race and is wide open with no dominant figure,” said John Fulton, South American representative for the Breeders’ Cup. The Gran Premio 25 de Mayo, one of the most important races on the national calendar, will anchor two other Group 1 races scheduled for the patriotic holiday card.