by Michael Burns

Fairy Magic and Latency, past winners of the Gran Premio Carreras de las Estrellas Classic (Arg-G1), Argentina's equivalent of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), headline an evenly matched and wide open international field of 24 horses and three alternate entries for this year's $385,016 Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-G1), South America's most prestigious race, on Saturday at Hipodromo San Isidro in Buenos Aires.

The Pellegrini is one of three international Group 1 races scheduled to be contested at San Isidro during Saturday's 19-race program.

Fairy Magic, victor of this year's Estrellas Classic at San Isidro, exits an impressive 1 1/2-length victory in the Gran Premio Palermo (Arg-G1) since returning in November from a layoff of almost five months. Multiple champion Latency, a five-time Group 1 winner and victor of the 2005 Estrellas Classic, makes his return after a layoff of almost four months. In his prior start, Latency narrowly captured the 1,800-meter (8.94-furlong) Gran Premio General San Martin (Arg-G1) at Palermo. Latency placed fourth in the '04 Carlos Pellegrini.

Fairy Magic and Latency's biggest challenge may come from Gran Premio Copa de Oro (Arg-G1) one-two finishers Life of Victory and Honey Nov. Other contenders include Eyeofthetiger, winner of the Argentine classic Gran Premio Nacional (Arg-G1) (Argentine Derby).

Group 2 winners Candy Gift, Keyite, and Group 1-placed My Happiness also hold an upset chance.

The 2,400-meter turf race will mark the last ride for veteran and successful jockey Jorge Valdivieso, who will pilot Argentine Derby runner-up Puchet.

Grande Premio Derby Paulista (Brz-G1) winner Mr. Universo and Brazilian dual classic winner Meu Rei, represent a strong Brazilian delegation.

Peruvian turf male champion Dushanbe, Group 2 winner Yabra and the U.S.-bred Aljabr colt Al Kadir, will carry the flag for Peru. Uruguayan invader Amacho Carioca, trained by former Southern California-based female jockey Yolanda Davila, complete the foreign delegation.

The maximum number of starters for the Pellegrini is 24. The other two Group 1 races in the card are the Felix de Alzaga Unzue at 1,000 meters (4.97furlongs) and the Joaquin S. de Anchorena (Arg-G1) at 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs).

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent

The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. Don Julio A (Salt Lake), Adrian Giannetti, 119, Hugo M. Perez;
 
2. Amacho Carioca (Painter [Arg]), Cesar Mendez, 132, Yolanda Davila;

3. Yabra (Swiss Native), Carlos Hernandez, 119, Filomeno Aburto;

4. Honey Nov (Romanov), Jorge Ricardo, 132, Juan Carlos Etchechoury Jr.;

5. Eyeofthetiger (Tempranero), Edwin Talaverano, 119, Ricardo Reighert;
 
6. Suker (Fortunate Joe), Aníbal Cabrera, 119, Marcos Medina;

7. Al Kadir (Aljabr), Damian Ramella, 125, Alfonso Arias;

8. Arandano En Boca (Boca Mio), Facundo Coria, 119, Pablo Blazevich;

9. Puchet (Potrillon [Arg]), Jorge Valdivieso, 119, Carlos Daniel Etchechoury;

10. Meu Rei (Vettori), Altair Domingos, 119, Dendico Garcia Jr.;

11.Candy Gift (Candy Stripes), Juan Carlos Noriega, 132, Carlos Daniel Etchechoury;

12. Forest (American Chance), Lucrecia Carbajal, 119, Jose Alves;

13. Life of Victory (Incurable Optimist), Rodrigo Blanco, 135, Carlos Daniel Etchechoury;

14. My Happiness (Festin [Arg]), Francisco Benitez, 135, Thomas Tribolet;

15. Flag Copado (Flag Down), Sergio Toscani, 132, Roberto Pellegata;

16. Fairy Magic (Southern Halo), Jose Ricardo Mendez, 132, Alfredo Gaitan Dassie;

17. Rey Anjiz (Anjiz), Rodrigo Cruz, 135, Pedro Molina;

18. Speed Emperor (Emperor Jones), Jose Lufrano, 119, Jorge Garcia;

19. Mr. Universo (Roi Normand), Joao Moreira, 119, Selmar Lobo;

20. Latency (Slew Gin Fizz), Julio Cesar Mendez, 135, Juan Udaondo;

21. Keyite (Lasting Approval), Jacinto Rafael Herrera, 119, Guillermo Frenkel Santillan;

22. Dushanbe (Riyadian), Pablo Falero, 132, Victor Neyra;

23. Potro Sahara (Potrillon [Arg]), Juan Lagos, 135, Hugo Perez; and

24. Ibope (Lode), Mario Leyes, 132, Jorge Mayansky Neer.

A.E. Rupit (Lucky Roberto), Anselmo Zacarias, 132, Jorge Mayansky Neer;

A.E. Mino Ona (Flag Down), Gonzalo Hahn, 132, Juan Carlos Bianchi; and

A.E. Capo Fede (Capo Total), Roberto Quinteros, 119, Miguel Salazar.

A.E.-alternate entry