The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini International has attracted a powerful 17-horse field, led by multiple Group 1 winners Obataye (BRZ) and Acento Final (ARG). The Saturday’s 1 1/2-mile contest at Hipodromo de San Isidro will award the winner an automatic starting position into next year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international program offering automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled for Oct. 30–31 at Keeneland. The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini International is the first Challenge race of the 2026 season.
Global Media Turf will provide live YouTube coverage of the Carlos Pellegrini card from San Isidro, including a segment on the Challenge Series. Post time for the race is 5:30 p.m. ET.
Leading Contenders in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini International
Haras Rio Iguassu’s 5-year-old Obataye, trained by Antonio Oldoni, enters the race after a 1 1/2-length win in the Oct. 18 Gran Premio Latino Americano (G1) at Hipodromo da Gavea in Brazil. The son of Courtier is a three-time Group 1 winner, also successful in the Matias Machline ABCPCC Classica at Cidade Jardim and the 2024 Premio Brasil.
Haras Fazenda Boa Vista’s Havana Cigar (BRZ), trained by Emerson Garcia, comes in off a 6 1/4-length victory in the Nov. 15 Derby Paulista at Sao Paulo.
Local contender Acento Final, owned by Haras Pozo De Luna S.A. and trained by Nicolas Martin Ferro, is a three-time Group 1 winner. The 4-year-old son of Treasure Beach has captured his last two starts at 1 1/2 miles—the General San Martin on Sept. 6 at Palermo and the Copa de Oro – Alfredo Labor on Nov. 1 at San Isidro, defeating Vota Bien by a head.
The line-up also includes Group 1 winners The Gladiator’s Hat and Crazy Talent. The Gladiator’s Hat, trained by Carlos Daniel Etchechoury, posted a 7-length victory in the Nov. 19 Dardo Rocha-Internacional at La Plata. Crazy Talent, trained by Miguel Suarez, won three races this year, including the De Honor-Copa Julio y Carlos Menditeguy at San Isidro, as well as the Gran Premio Chacabuco and the Gran Premio Comparacion at Palermo.
International riding star Frankie Dettori will partner the 5-year-old El Pulque (ARG), a three-time winner by Heliostatic, for co-owner and trainer Conrado Linares.
As part of the Challenge Series benefits, the winner’s entry fees will be paid for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, and a travel allowance is provided for starters based outside North America. The Challenge winner must be nominated by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 19, 2026, to receive these rewards.
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