Idolo Porteno tops Latinoamericano cast

Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-G1) hero Idolo Porteno (Jump Start) heads a strong

Argentine delegation and an international field of 13 bidding for glory in

Saturday's Gran Premio Asociacion Latinoamericano de Jockey Clubes e Hipodromos

(Arg-G1), South America's most prominent weight-for-age event.

This year's 31st renewal of the Latinoamericano, which will be run at 2100

meters on the dirt, marks the second time it will be staged at Hipodromo

Argentino de Palermo in Buenos Aires. The race is reserved for horses three

years old and older who are nominated by the nation and track members of the

Asociacion Latinoamericana de Jockey Clubes.

Idolo Porteno, the top local hopeful, reappears for the first time since

winning South America's prestigious Carlos Pellegrini on turf at San Isidro in

December, and seeks his third straight Group 1 triumph after also previously

annexing the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha on dirt at Hipodromo La Plata in November.

His trainer, Alfredo Gaitan Dassie, will bid for his first victory in the

multinational Group 1 after prior failed attempts with Sebaorg in 1996 at La

Gavea in Rio de Janeiro and with Send inthe Clowns in 2011 at San Isidro.

Legendary jockey Jorge Ricardo has a return assignment on Idolo Porteno, who

will break from post 5.

Argentina's supporting cast is completed by dual Group 1 winner Don't Worry

(Sultry Song); multiple Group 2 winner Papa Inc (Include); three-year-old

Interdetto (Roman Ruler), runner-up in the Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two

Thousand Guineas) (Arg-G1) and Nacional (Argentine Derby) (Arg-G1); and likely

pacesetter Blood Money (Not For Sale).

Argentina is responsible for six of the 30 winners to date. Chilean

Thoroughbreds, eight-time winners of the race -- including three of the last

five renewals -- will be represented by three-year-old filly Furia Cruzada

(Newfoundland), heroine of last year's Clasico Alberto Solari Magnasco (Chi-G1);

Gran Criterium (Chi-G1) hero Sono Bianco Nero (Seeking the Dia) and the Group

1-placed three-year-old colt Katmai (Chi) (Scat Daddy).

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