Gulfstream Park: Sr. Quisqueyano wires Quality Road Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sr. Quisqueyano showed once again that he is a much more effective horse around two turns and when able to get to the lead, making every pole a winning one en route to a 2 1/4-length victory over Csaba in Saturday’s $100,000 Quality Road Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Where’s Sterling, the even-money favorite, raced wide throughout and finished a disappointing fourth.

Sr. Quisqueyano’s two previous stakes victories this season came on the front end in the Calder Derby and here this summer in the Eight Miles East. So, it came as no surprise when jockey Carlos Olivero set right out for the front end, his mission made easier when jockey Manny Cruz reined Csaba back after running on even terms with Sr. Quisqueyano into the clubhouse turn.

Sr. Quisqueyano set reasonable fractions over the fast track, posting a 24.13-second opening quarter and a 47.71 half-mile, then had plenty left in the tank to turn back a challenge from Csaba through early stretch. Csaba, also a two-time stakes winner this season entering today's race, sat a perfect trip, stalking Sr. Quisqueyano, but lacked the necessary punch when set down while hindering his own chances by lugging in on his left lead near midstretch.

Joshua’s Comprise, the longest price in the seven-horse field at 65-1, saved ground throughout to finish third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Csaba. Where’s Sterling was hung wide due to the short run to the first turn and lost ground thereafter, failing to muster any kind of a rally through the final quarter-mile.

Sr. Quisqueyano, one of only two 3-year-olds in the field along with Joshua’s Comprise, is a son of Exclusive Quality trained by Luis Olivares for DDRD Racing Inc. He covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.95 and paid $12.80.

“Two turns helps this horse a lot,” Olivares said. “He relaxes more when he goes two turns. When I saw [splits of] 24 and 47, I knew they were dead. He loves to be on the lead. Everybody took back, and that helped a lot.”