Presque Isle Stakes Nominations are Out

Presque Isle Downs has finally posted stakes nominations for two races this coming weekend, including the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes for three-year-old fillies going six furlongs. Interesting possible runners here including, most notably, G2 Delaware Oaks winner Moon Catcher (fourth most recently in the G1 Alabama); Ken McPeek’s Ms. Sabbatical who just broke her maiden at Saratoga (August 18); Helen Pitts’ Silverinyourpocket who won the G3 La Troienne at Churchill Downs in May (last finished out of the money in G3 Dogwood to Lady Joanne); George Weaver’s Street Sass who was scratched from this past weekend’s G3 Victory Ride; Steve Klesaris’ Ticket to Seattle who finished fourth in the G1 Prioress last out; Coy Coyote who finished out the money last in G1 Coaching Club American Oaks; Todd Pletcher’s Astor Park (who is already entered in Wednesday’s $75K Mongo Queen Stakes at Monmouth); and Akronism who finished out of the money in the G1 Test Stakes last out. The complete PP’s for nominees is here. The $100,000 Tom Ridge Labor Day Stakes nominations are found here, while their past performances are here.

Nice article here about Presque Isle. Steve Asmussen is bringing 30 horses, Scott Lake has 24 stalls, and other key trainers with space already reserved include John Servis and Graham Motion.

Today’s training roster at Presque Isle Downs included:

Real Dandy, 2005 winner of the West Virginia Derby (over Magna Graduate) for Steve Asmussen, shipped in from Arlington. He was last scratched from the G2 Washington Park Handicap (July 28), won by Lewis Michael. Before that, he had finished fourth in that race at Churchill Downs where Brass Hat set a track record. He’s also nearly $1 million in earnings, so I can only hazard to guess that he’s being aimed towards one of PID’s lucrative stakes.

Another Steve Asmussen trainee at PID is Santana Strings, a G2 (Amsterdam) winning five-year-old horse by Wheaton, who last raced at Fair Grounds in March. His complete past performances are here.

Catonight, a four-year-old Steve Asmussen-trained colt who won the 2006 Sugar Bowl Stakes (FG, 6f), and finished third in the Mountain Valley Stakes on last year’s Southwest Stakes undercard at Oaklawn Park. This year he’s run at Lone Star (June 28) and Remington (August 3).

Labor Union, a two-year-old son of Dixie Union (sire of recent winners Grasshopper and Most Distinguished) who has shipped in from Arlington. He lost a MSW there on July 28 (finishing 6th in 11-horse field). He’s also trained by Steve Asmussen.

Natural Speed, a nice three-year-old Orientate colt, who’s 8 for 10 in the money in his career, albeit with modest earnings ($79,310). He last ran in a 5.5f allowance race at Lone Star on July 28, finishing 4th in 7 horse field. Another Steve Asmussen trainee, he is nominated for the $100,000 Tom Ridge Labor Day Stakes.

Tres Dream, a three-year-old filly trained by Steve Asmussen, who ships in from Remington, where she recently won the Ponca City Stakes (August 3) with a 97 Beyer; she also ran at Keeneland in April. She is nominated for the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes at Presque Isle, to be run on Saturday, September 1. Nice work today (4f 48.60b, 3/16)

Capricious, a two-year-old Steve Asmussen filly by Tiznow who broke her maiden at first asking on July 8 (race 3) at Churchill Downs. Owned by Padua Stables.

Komax, a nine-year-old Steve Asmussen gelding who, in 7 races this year, is 5-1-1 (worth $95,610), mostly at Sunland and Lone Star. He’s had quite a career, including a third place finish in 2002 G3 Los Angeles Handicap (to Kona Gold).

Perfectly Played, a two-year-old gelding (trained by Jeff Radosevich) who was the upset winner of the $50,000 Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes at Thistledown on August 10 (paid $23.00). For this son of Fast Play, it was his first race—impressive! Interesting note on his dam, P for Perfect—I don’t know if it was on purpose or an accident, but she mated with her own father Turkoman, producing Subliminator who won at least one race that I could find.

Appellate, a two-year-old filly by Buddha whose most recently workouts were at Arlington (and before that Keeneland). It does not appear that she has run a race yet, but the workouts look very good.

Big American Force, a seven-year-old Mountaineer claimer (and once 2003 Triple Crown nominated son of Quiet American, then trained by Tim Ritchey) who is now trained by Doug Whalen. He’s won only 9 races in 47 starts, his maiden broken in August 2003. His complete race record is here.

Excessively Groovy, a four-year-old Arthur Bosley-trained colt who broke his maiden in the 7th race at Thistledown on July 29.

Gally’s Way, a two-year-old filly by French-raced Way West (son of Gone West and Fr G3 winner Greenway) and Gallapiat mare Chriso Gally. Pretty obscure breeding, but she’s working well, first at Penn National (46.80 hg, 4f on August 18) and now here.

Ghost Chaser, a three-year-old maiden gelding trained by Steven R. Brown who raced at Laurel earlier in the year, then most recently at Charles Town (in the money both times). He’s a son of the Mr. Prospector stallion Silver Ghost.

Philly Fever, a three-year-old filly who last won a 6f Clm 25K n2 race at Penn National (July 17); she’s also trained by Steven R. Brown.

Mazel Dancer, a six-year-old mare who ran at Oaklawn in April for trainer Jorge Lara. In 2005, she hit the inner rail at Ellis Park and unseated Eddie Martin Jr. who injured his shoulder, but she was apparently fine. Most recently (June 2007), she ran at Mountaineer, and was claimed by Brandon Ates, then ran again July 10 (race 6) where she finished second.

Tricky Image, an eight-year-old gelding trained by Michael Stidham, who won a cheap claiming race at Lone Star on July 26.

Bengal Lore, a four-year-old colt by Tale of the Cat was once a promising two-year-old (Alan at Left at the Gate discussed him here) who last was listed as an AE in a $5K claiming race at Mountaineer (July 14); trained by Bill McDonnell.

Bimini Twist, a two-year-old yet-unraced Stormy Atlantic colt (nice 5f in 1:00.60b, 2/25).

Silver Light, a three-year-old half-brother to last year’s G2 Dwyer and G2 Super Derby winner Strong Contender, is a Bob Baffert trainee who has yet to break his maiden (finished 4th in race 6 at Del Mar on July 21); owned by Zayat Stables. His dam is Kopenhagen, by Dynaformer, and his sire is Silver Deputy, by Deputy Minister, so obviously they are hoping his turf pedigree carries over to Tapeta.