Sr. Quisqueyano pulls off a Sunshine Millions Classic Shocker

For those who liked Sr. Quisqueyano in today’s $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic -- well done! Sent off as a 20-1 outsider in the field of six, the five-year-old son of Exclusive Quality gamely fought off the late challenge of East Hall, to win the featured event today at Gulfstream Park by a half-length.

Third early behind a very contentious pace battle of Wildcat Red and I’m Steppin’ It Up, Sr. Quisqueyano made an early move for the lead under rider Edgard Zayas when the top two began to soften up going into the far turn. He quickly took command and braced for the oncoming challenge of the late runners as the field came spinning out of the Gulfstream turn. East Hall and Catholic Cowboy loomed large at the head of the stretch, but Sr. Quisqueyano proved to be one pesky longshot, as he maintained his length-plus advantage throughout most of the stretch. East Hall surged late, but he ran out of room and was unable to get close enough to make it a photo finish.

Predicting a Sr. Quisqueyano victory today was no easy task, but the Classic score today was his third stakes victory at Gulfstream Park, having accounted for the Eight Miles East Stakes and Quality Road Stakes back in 2013 at the South Florida oval. 2014 turned out to be a tough year for the multiple stakes winner, but a good deal of credit should go to his new trainer, Peter Walder, after claiming Sr. Quisqueyano for $62,500 for owner, Loooch Racing Stable in his last race just 27 days ago. The winning trainer talked about his training since joining the barn.

“We just backed off him. These older horses sometimes are over-trained,” said Walder. “He’s an old veteran; he knows what he’s doing. We just backed off him and played with him a little bit. He went into this race bouncing. I told the owner, I wish I had a few more weeks to work with him and get to know him better, but a seven-horse field for $250,000, you got to take a shot.

As for the runner-up, it was another strong effort for East Hall, who was coming off back-to-back stakes wins in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby and the Millions Classic Preview in October and November respectively. Sent off as the 7-2 third choice, the Bill Kaplan-trained gelding had a hard time getting by Catholic Cowboy in the stretch, but when he did, he finished up nicely to get within a diminishing half-length at the wire, and clear of Catholic Cowboy for the place

Meanwhile, the two race favorites, Transparent and Wildcat Red, showed little while finishing a well beaten 4th and a distant 5th respectively. The latter did not have the best of trips, but likely not enough trouble to have cost him the race.

Sr. Quisqueyano rewarded his backers with a $43.20 return for a two dollar win bet, and covered the nine furlongs in 1:50.09. Today’s victory, the richest of his career, raised his lifetime record to 29-8-6-3, and pushed his lifetime earnings over the $700,000 mark.