Paraje, an Argentine-bred bought as a two-year-old by the Venezuelan-owned Stud Los Libertadores who would race him in Venezuela until being sold in late 1970 to American businessman Sigmund Sommer. Paraje won the 1971 Display Handicap in track record time then won it again in each of the next two years. In the 1973 edition Paraje set a new American and world record time of 3:47 4/5 for 2¼ miles on dirt. Paraje's owner, Sigmund Sommer, would win this race a record total five times.
