Sr. Quisqueyano works for Big Cap

Sr. Quisqueyano had his final prep for the Santa Anita Handicap shortly after the second renovation break Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park,, working six furlongs in 1:16.62 from the five-eighths pole in company with stable mate Recharged. Sr. Quisqueyano, who won the Sunshine Millions Classic in his previous start, posted splits of 26.37, 39.52, and 1:04.37 to the wire then galloped out well, pulling up seven-eighths in 1:30.99.

"He worked like a horse who wants to go a distance of ground," said trainer Peter Walder. "He went a little slow early but was at the mercy of his workmate and the further he went, the better he went. I also think the track is still a little on the dull side, even with the rain we got earlier this morning."

Sr Quisqueyano will van to Ocala at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday morning to catch a flight to California that will leave later that afternoon. Walder said Edgard Zayas, who was aboard for the work, will have the mount in the Big Cap.

"It looks like it's going to be a seven-horse field," said Walder. "I'm not saying we're going to beat Shared Belief, but it's a $1 million race and second money is worth more than winning the Gulfstream Park Handicap if we stayed home. And from top to bottom, I think the Gulfstream Handicap is tougher than the race out there. I believe that you never run away from one horse. If California Chrome was in the race too, I wouldn’t be going. Shared Belief is a great horse, but great horses have gone down before and I’d sure like to be the one to slay the dragon.”

In a previous version of this article, it was incorrectly stated that Edgar Prado will have the mount on Sr. Quisqueyano in the Santa Anita Handicap. Edgard Zayas will ride.