Gulfstream: Sr. Quisqueyano reverses recent form to win Eight Miles East

A return to racing two turns on dirt was all the Sr. Quisqueyano needed to regain his form Saturday in the $115,000 Eight Miles East Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Facing older horses for the first time following two losses in dirt sprints and a last-place finish going long in his turf debut, the 3-year-old Sr. Quisqueyano ($14.60) held off a late charge by 4-5 favorite Where’s Sterling to prevail by a neck in the 1 1/16 mile Eight Miles East. It was his first victory since he captured the Calder Derby – his last two-turn start on dirt – in early April.

Sent to the front by jockey Carlos Oliveros, Sr. Quisqueyano set comfortable fractions of 47.37 seconds and 1:12.35 and came into the stretch with a clear advantage and was still three lengths in front with a furlong remaining. Where’s Sterling, sitting patiently in fifth down the backstretch but only about four lengths behind, made a three-wide move on the far turn to mount a challenge and drew on even terms with the pacesetter inside the sixteenth pole before Sr. Quiqueyano dug down and refused to lose. The winning time on a fast track was 1:45.28.

Where’s Sterling, a Grade 2 winner in 2011, was clearly second best, 7 1/4 lengths ahed of Isutalkintome at 12-1.

Trained by Luis Olivares for DDRD Racing Inc., St. Quisqueyano is now 5 for 14 with earnings of $414,150.