Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes

The Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older, over a distance of 6+12 furlongs on the all weather track held annually in September at Presque Isle Downs & Casino racetrack in [[Summit Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania|Summit Township, Pennsylvania]. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.

Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes
Grade II race
LocationPresque Isle Downs & Casino
Summit Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Inaugurated2007
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitepresqueisledowns.com
Race information
Distance6+12 furlongs
SurfaceAll Weather Track
Trackleft-handed
Qualificationfillies and mares, three years old and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 124 lbs.
3-year-olds: 120 lbs.
Graded stakes race winners 1 lbs. added
Purse$300,000 (2023)

History edit

The race was inaugurated in 2007[1] with an attractive purse offered of $400,000[1] over the distance of six furlongs. The distance of the event was increased to 6+12 furlongs in 2009.[2] That same year, 2009, the event was upgraded to a Grade III[2] and two years later in 2011 to a Grade II.[1]

The event has become the highlight of the meet and attracts fine fillies and mares from Canada and USA including dual winner of the event Informed Decision who later won the 2009 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and Groupie Doll won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in 2012 and 2013.

The event was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[3]

Records edit

Speed record:

  • 6+12 furlongs: 1:14.57 - Artie's Princess (2022) (new track record)
  • 6 furlongs: 1:07:95 - Wild Gams (2008)

Margins:

  • 4+14 lengths – Hotshot Anna (2018)
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer
  • 2 – Jonathan E. Sheppard (2009, 2010)
  • 2 – William B. Bradley (2012, 2013)
  • 2 – Gary Mandella (2014, 2015)
  • 2 – Hugh H. Robertson (2018, 2019)
  • 2 – Saffie Joseph Jr. (2022, 2023)

Winners edit

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes
2023 Accomplished Girl 3 Edgard Zayas Saffie Joseph Jr. Gentry Farms (A.P. Gentry) 6+12 furlongs 1:15.29 $298,500 II [4]
2022 Artie's Princess* 5 Jose L. Ortiz Saffie Joseph Jr. Kenneth Ramsey & Estate of Sarah Ramsey 6+12 furlongs 1:14.57 $400,600 II [5]
2021 Race not held
2020 Race not held
2019 Hotshot Anna 5 Antonio A. Gallardo Hugh H. Robertson Hugh H. Robertson 6+12 furlongs 1:15.32 $400,000 II [6]
2018 Hotshot Anna 4 Antonio A. Gallardo Hugh H. Robertson Hugh H. Robertson 6+12 furlongs 1:14.73 $400,600 II [7]
2017 Ami's Mesa 4 Luis Contreras Josie Carroll Ivan Dalos 6+12 furlongs 1:14.68 $400,800 II [8]
2016 Sarah Sis 4 Florent Geroux Ingrid Mason Joe Ragsdale 6+12 furlongs 1:16.42 $400,200 II [9]
2015 Living The Life (IRE) 5 Joe Bravo Gary Mandella HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing 6+12 furlongs 1:15.17 $400,000 II [10]
2014 Living The Life (IRE) 4 Mike E. Smith Gary Mandella HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing 6+12 furlongs 1:15.26 $400,400 II [11]
2013 Groupie Doll 5 Rajiv Maragh William B. Bradley Fred Bradley, William Bradley, Carl Hurst & Brent Burns 6+12 furlongs 1:14.88 $400,200 II [12]
2012 Groupie Doll 4 Rajiv Maragh William B. Bradley Fred Bradley, William Bradley, Carl Hurst & Brent Burns 6+12 furlongs 1:16.32 $400,600 II [13]
2011 Musical Romance 4 Juan Leyva William A. Kaplan William A. Kaplan & Pinnacle Racing Stable (Adam Lazarus, managing partner) 6+12 furlongs 1:16.40 $400,800 II [14]
2010 Informed Decision 5 Julien R. Leparoux Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 6+12 furlongs 1:15.62 $400,400 III [15]
2009 Informed Decision 4 Julien R. Leparoux Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 6+12 furlongs 1:15.10 $398,000 III [16]
2008 Wild Gams 5 Miguel Mena Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. New Farm (Everett & Nancy Novak) 6 furlongs 1:07.95 $400,000 Listed [17]
2007 Miss Macy Sue 4 Eusebio Razo Jr. Kelly R. Von Hemel Roll Reroll Stables 6 furlongs 1:08.21 $400,000 Listed [18]

Legend:
  All Weather Track
Notes:
*Artie's Princess finished first in the 2022 running of the race, but in March 2023 the horse was disqualified due to a medication violation.[19] In July 2023, the disqualification was reversed by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission.[20]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (Gr. 2)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b "PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS MASTERS STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  3. ^ King, Byron (23 June 2020). "Presque Isle Downs Scheduled to Begin Meet July 27 The Presque Isle Masters (G2) and Presque Isle Mile will not be run this year". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  4. ^ "2023 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  5. ^ "2022 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. ^ "2019 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  7. ^ "2018 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  8. ^ "2017 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  9. ^ "2016 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  10. ^ "2015 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  11. ^ "2014 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  12. ^ "2013 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  13. ^ "2012 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  14. ^ "2011 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  15. ^ "2010 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  16. ^ "2009 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  17. ^ "2008 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  18. ^ "2007 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Listed - (race 7)". Equibase. 15 September 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  19. ^ Hegarty, Matt (3 March 2023). "Presque Isle Downs suspends Saffie Joseph Jr. for Masters positive". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  20. ^ Perez, Joe (1 August 2023). "PA Commission Reverses Penalties for Artie's Princess". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 1 August 2023.