Quereme Pass looks to stay on the winning path at Gulfstream Park

After his impressive victory at Kentucky Downs, the Argentine-bred will face a tough allowance optional claiming this Saturday over 1500 meters on the turf

Quereme Pass in one of his victories over the dirt track at Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida (Special to Turf Diario).- After his unforgettable victory over the demanding turf at Kentucky Downs, the Argentine Quereme Pass will look to take another step forward in his U.S. campaign this Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where he is set to contest the seventh race on the card, a $62,500 allowance optional claiming event offering a purse of $58,000 and scheduled over 1500 meters on the grass.

Owned by Lugamo Racing Stable LLC and Stud Pauli, the son of Distinctiv Passion will break from post 1 and face seven rivals, with Puerto Rican rider Edgar Zayas in the irons, fresh off clinching his eighth consecutive Sunshine Meet riding title. The Venezuelan José F. D’Angelo trains the Haras El Alfalfar homebred.

The dark bay has made six starts in the U.S. so far and has been progressing steadily after a couple of defeats in claiming company. He had already hinted at improvement back in mid-August over this same course, but it was at Kentucky Downs where he truly made the breakthrough, under the guidance of Italian legend Frankie Dettori. In Argentina, Quereme Pass had a brief but successful campaign, winning three of his five outings, including one race in which he unfortunately suffered a fall.

Clearly among the contenders, the Argentine-bred will have to take on several rivals with solid stakes credentials, most notably Palazzi (Pioneerof the Nile), from the barn of Mark Casse, who returns from a layoff but owns victories in the bet365 Eclipse Stakes (G2) and the Pattison Singspiel Stakes (G3) at Woodbine, Canada.

Bringing more recent form is Itsallcomintogetha (Weekend Hideaway), who in his most recent start finished a half-length second to Slapintheface (Oscar Performance) in the Mohawk Stakes at Belmont at the Big A.

Also of note is Spirit Prince (Cairo Prince), coming off a third-place effort at Kentucky Downs. He previously finished second in the Awad Stakes (L) and third in the Pilgrim Stakes (G2), the With Anticipation Stakes (G3) and the Kent Stakes (L).

Another battle-tested name is Eye On the King (Street Sense), also under the care of D’Angelo, who will be ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano and brings strong black-type form into the race.

A demanding assignment, no doubt — but Quereme Pass arrives with confidence, credentials and momentum on his side.