Led by multiple group 1 winners Obataye and Acento Final, a 17-horse field has been entered for the 1 1/2-mile Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional (G1) at Hipodromo de San Isidro Dec. 13. The winner of Argentina's most prestigious race will earn an automatic starting position into next year's $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races, the winners of which receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland in Lexington. The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini International is the first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race for the 2026 season.
Global Media Turf will broadcast live coverage via YouTube of the Carlos Pellegrini card from San Isidro, including a special segment on the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. Post time for the race is 5:30 p.m. ET.
Headlining one of the deepest fields in recent years, Haras Rio Iguassu's 5-year-old Obataye, trained by Antonio Oldoni, comes into the race off a 1 1/2-length victory in the Oct. 18 Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) going 1 1/4 miles in a driving rainstorm at Hipodromo da Gavea in Brazil. It was the third group 1 victory for the son of Courtier, who also captured the Aug. 2 Mathias Machline ABCPCC Classica at Cidade Jardim in Sao Paulo and the 2024 Grande Premio Brasil.
A second group 1 winner from Brazil, Haras Fazenda Boa Vista's Havana Cigar, trained by Emerson Garcia, arrives off a 6 1/4-length victory Nov. 15 in the 1 1/2-mile Derby Paulista (G1) in Sao Paulo.
The locals are led by three-time group 1 winner Acento Final for owners Haras Pozo De Luna S.A. and trainer Nicolas Martin Ferro. A 4-year-old son of Treasure Beach, Acento Final has won his last two starts, both at 1 1/2 miles. On Sept. 6 at Palermo, he won the General San Martin (G1) and returned Nov. 1 to San Isidro for the Copa de Oro-Alfredo Lalor (G1), where he wore down Vota Bien in deep stretch to prevail by a head.
The field also includes two additional group 1 winners: Haras El Angel De Venecia's The Gladiator's Hat and La Caballeriza S.A. and Varela Pablo Mariano's Crazy Talent. Trained by Carlos Etchechoury, The Gladiator's Hat, a 5-year-old son of Hat Ninja, ran away to a 7-length victory last time out in the Nov. 19 Dardo Rocha-Internacional (G1) at La Plata in Buenos Aires for his fourth win.
Crazy Talent has won three races this year for trainer Miguel Suarez. The 5-year-old Equal Talent horse won the April 5 De Honor-Copa Julio y Carlos Menditeguy (G1) over the San Isidro course, and came back to the winner's circle in July and August at Palermo with 1 1/2-mile victories in the Gran Premio Chacabuco (G2) and the Gran Premio Comparacion (G2), the latter by 8 lengths.
Adding to the intrigue of the race will be the appearance of international riding star Frankie Dettori, on his South American retirement tour, who has the mount on the 5-year-old El Pulque, a three-time winner by Heliostatic, for co-owner and trainer Conrado Linares.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini International to start in the Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 1/2 miles. Breeders' Cup will also provide a 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. 19, 2026, in order to receive rewards.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
