A Victory to Remember for Quereme Pass at Kentucky Downs

The Stud Pauli–Lugamo Racing runner scored in record time under Lanfranco Dettori

FRANKLIN, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- Mauro Castellazzi had his computer on, YouTube running on the TV, and was settled into a chair at home, waiting for the designated hour. The man behind the Stud Pauli colors, which have been dominating at San Isidro, Palermo, and La Plata, was chasing a memorable victory with Quereme Pass at Kentucky Downs—the most European-feeling track in the United States, where its spectacular purses, especially for locally bred runners, draw attention from everywhere.

The task was daunting, but the Distinctiv Passion colt was coming off a tough defeat on the turf at Gulfstream Park. The target was race eight of the day, an $80,000 allowance optional claiming with total purses of $209,600 (after incentives, $152,287 were distributed), run over 1400 meters on the turf, with Lanfranco Dettori confidently aboard.

Quereme Pass, a dark bay bred by Haras El Alfalfar and trained by Venezuelan José F. D’Angelo, went straight to the front at the break, set a measured pace, and in the distinctive Kentucky Downs stretch, held off all challengers to capture his first U.S. victory. The win sent Castellazzi and his Lugamo Racing partners into delirium—and as a bonus, it came in record time of 1:20.45.

The owner’s cheers were loud enough to feel from afar, and with good reason: it marked the first victory for an Argentine-bred at Kentucky Downs since Imperador (Treasure Beach) triumphed in the 2021 Calumet Turf Cup Stakes (G2)—coincidentally, during Imperador’s farewell to the racetrack.

At four years old, Quereme Pass had won three of five starts in Palermo before heading to the United States, and now, after four close calls, finally broke through.

Running in Glad Tears Key (Key Deputy), a full sister to G3 winner Nostalgia Key and dam line of stakes winner Baby Pass (Distinctiv Passion), and from the family of Tristeza Cat (Easing Along) and Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion), Quereme Pass went unclaimed (he raced with that option) and will return to his Miami base with a new profile—likely aiming for tougher races and dreaming of stakes company, giving Castellazzi, D’Angelo, and Lugamo Racing another shot at a perfect day like this Wednesday.