Quid Pro Quo wins Italy's Orsi Mangelli

The Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli was raced Thursday at the San Siro racetrack in Milan, Italy, with a purse of just 209,000 euro (approximately $270,000). Although the low purse was a result of the state of harness racing in Italy, the race was a success for Sweden with the victory by the Menhammar Stud-bred Quid Pro Quo (Yankee Glide, out of Hostage, by Express Ride).

Quid Pro Quo has been among the leaders of his Swedish Crop as a 2 and year old but this was by far his most important victory. Quid Pro Quo has been trained his entire career by Svante Bath and was for the first time catch-driven by Erik Adielsson.

Adielsson took Quid Pro Quo to an easy early lead but then yielded to the big favorite Pascia Lest (Varenne) after the first quarter. Adielsson was content to sit in the pocket behind Pascia Lest, the dominant horse in Italy with 11 wins in 12 starts, all in stakes competition including the Derby.

But Pascia Lest wasn't left alone in command as Probo Op, a son of the Menhammar's Swedish sire From Above (Zoot Suit) put pressure on the outside. It made life too hard for Pascia Lest, and Probo Op was the strongest and took advantage turning for home. But he had no answer for Quid Pro Quo's late speed.

Quid Pro Quo was timed in a mile rate of 1:57.1 over the 2,100 meters.

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