'Quisqueyano' Aims for Graded Win in TX Mile

Loooch Racing Stables' Sr. Quisqueyano cuts back in distance for the $200,000 Texas Mile S (gr. III), where a graded-stakes breakthrough is on the line, April 24 at Lone Star Park.

 

The Texas Mile is carded as the eighth race on the nine-race evening program, with an approximate post time of 9:51 CDT.

 

Sr. Quisqueyano is a five-time stakes winner who won the 1 1/8-mile Florida Sunshine Millions Classic in January at Gulfstream Park. He has three graded stakes-placings, including his runner-up finish in the 1 3/16-mile Skip Away Stakes (gr. III) March 28, when he was edged by just a neck by favored Commissioner after setting the pace. The pair battled shoulder to shoulder through the stretch, with Commissioner just getting by 10-1 Sr. Quisqueyano in the closing strides.

 

A 5-year-old son of Exclusive Quality   trained by Peter Walder Sr., Quisqueyano has two wins and two runner-up finishes from seven starts at the Texas Mile distance, most recently when a well-beaten second finish to eventual graded-stakes winner Race Day in an optional claiming race at Dec. 21 at Gulfstream.

 

Sandwiched between the Sunshine Millions Classic and Skip Away, Sr. Quisqueyano shipped west to take on champion Shared Belief in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I). He finished ninth.

 

Among 10 opponents in the Texas Mile is Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Louisiana-bred One King's Man, who has placed in four of his five most recent starts, including his Feb. 7 victory in the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana-bred Premier Night Championship Stakes, in which a late run from next to last propelled him to a 3 1/2-length win.

 

Stepping up in class and next time out, the 5-year-old K One King   gelding was sixth in his graded- stakes debut March 28 in the 1 1/8-mile New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) when he lacked any sort of closing kick. A win in the Texas Mile would provide both One King's Man and trainer Joe Sharp a first graded-stakes triumph.

 

The field includes 2013 Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III) victor Rise Up, who since then won a pair of stakes at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots last year. The 4-year-old Rockport Harbor colt comes in off a front-running three-length romp in a six-furlong optional claiming race March 20 at the New Orleans track for trainer Tom Amoss and owner Paul Van Doren.