Martana . (Hipodromo de Palermo)
Winner Gains First Automatic Berth into Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff for 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar
Breeders’ Cup Release
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina ― Led by Arturo R. y Arturo Bullrich (G2) winner Martana (ARG), a field of seven fillies and mares has been entered for the May 1 Gran Premio Criadores (G1) at Hipodromo de Palermo in Argentina. The winner will earn an automatic starting position, and fees paid, into the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions with fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.
The 4-year-old Martana, owned by Santa Ines and trained by Enrique Martin Ferro, put on a powerful display March 1 in the 1 /4-mile Bullrich at Palermo, her first start since Dec. 14. Under jockey Martin Valle, she stayed just off the pacesetter through the far turn and opened up in the stretch, bearing out late but still coming home a 9-length winner. This registered the daughter of Fortify her sixth win in 14 starts.
After finishing third in the Bullrich, Pedro Rodolfo’s 3-year-old Ceniza Pampa (ARG) returned to Palermo in style, taking the April 5 Gilberto Lerena (G1) on turf at 1 3/8 miles. Trained by Edgardo Martucci, Ceniza Pampa’s 1 1/2-length win over Presencial (ARG) was her third career triumph. The daughter of Hat Ninja (ARG) is seeking her first win on dirt.
Los Aposotoles’s Orpen Rimout (ARG) comes into the race off two straight allowance victories this year at Palermo, both 5-length triumphs on dirt: at 7 furlongs on Jan. 4 and at 1 mile on Feb. 22. Trained by Danny Etchechoury, the daughter of Remote (GB) makes her stakes debut on Thursday.
Toroquemero’s International Look (ARG) finished second to Orpen Rimout in the Feb. 22 allowance race as the 4-1 favorite. Trained by Nicolas Martin Ferrro, the son of Cosmic Trigger (ARG) has finished second in his last three starts, including the 1 1/4-mile Seleccion (G1) at Palermo last October.
Carampangue’s Presencial, trained by Roberto “Coco” Bullrich ─ the last trainer to win Argentina’s Triple Crown ─ has been in the money in her last three starts, all Group 1 races on turf. The 3-year-old daughter of Suggestive Boy (ARG) closed out her year at San Isidro with a runner-up effort in the Nov. 2 Enrique Acebal and a third in the Dec. 14 Copa de Platta Roberto Vasquez Mansilla–Internacional. In her 2025 debut, she finished second to Gilberto Lerena.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Gran Premio Criadores winner to start in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Del Mar. 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. 20, 2025, to receive the rewards.
