Sr. Quisqueyano imposing in Texas Mile

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Sr. Quisqueyano can kick-start a memorable week of racing for owner Ron Paolucci in Friday night’s Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park. A Dallas resident, Paolucci will be at Churchill Downs next weekend to watch his War Story run in the Kentucky Derby.

But the first order of business is the Texas Mile, a race for 3-year-olds and up in which Sr. Quisqueyano will go favored following his runner-up finish to Commissioner in the Grade 3 Skip Away at Gulfstream Park. Others set for the 11-horse Texas Mile include stakes winners Rise Up, One King’s Man, and Texas Air.

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The Texas Mile, the co-richest race of the meet alongside the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 25, has been on Paolucci’s radar for some time.

“It had a lot to do with wanting to race here,” he said. “I have a house here in Dallas. I ship horses to run at this meet. It’s where I make my home now. I had a couple pointed for the race, and I went with the best one I had going.”

Texas Mile, race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Sr. Quisqueyano (Last 3 Beyers: 109-91-101)

◗ Trained by Peter Walder, he comes off a career-high Beyer Speed Figure after finishing second by a neck in the Skip Away, a March 28 race in which he made the pace at 10-1.

“He ran a huge race,” Paolucci said. “He was fighting with Commissioner the whole way. He ran unbelievably good.”

◗ Sr. Quisqueyano arrived at Lone Star on Sunday.

“We shipped up early,” Paolucci said. “We flew him out of Florida last Sunday. He’s been here all week training, getting used to the track.”

◗ Paolucci claimed Sr. Quisqueyano for $62,500 on Dec. 21 at Gulfstream from a race in which the horse ran second to Race Day, who went on to win the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

“We claimed him with the intent of the Sunshine Millions, and he actually won that race at 20-1,” Paolucci said. “As a 2- and 3-year-old, he was on the Derby trail, and I had watched him race a number of times.”

◗ Paolucci said he also felt the horse improved when blinkers were removed in November.

◗ Edgard Zayas has the mount.

Rise Up (Last 3 Beyers: 97-90-91)

◗ The winner of the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot in 2013, the horse is teetering on $1 million in earnings with $957,315 for owner Paul Van Doren.

◗ Rise Up will attempt to give trainer Tom Amoss and jockey Richard Eramia their second straight Texas Mile win, following the front-running Grand Contender in 2014. Rise Up enters off a three-length win in an optional $62,500 claiming sprint at Fair Grounds on March 20.

“I think that Rise Up is a very good sprinter, and I think he can get up to a mile successfully,” Amoss said. “This is a race we’ve competed in before, and we think we know the race a little bit. Our plan is going to be to use his speed, and that’s worked for us before.”

◗ Rise Up made the pace last out, leading through a half-mile in 44.60 seconds before covering six furlongs in a quick 1:09.60.

“The fact that he showed that kind of speed sprinting, I think he’ll show enhanced speed Friday as well,” said Amoss.