Presque Isle Downs

Uncovering loaded needles and syringes to apprehending an assistant starter who was in possession of a controlled substance, seasoned integrity teams conducted searches and seizures last week across a pair of Keystone State racetracks. Led by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission staff, the sweeps took place first in Erie at Presque Isle Downs before spending three days downstate at Parx Racing in Bensalem through Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby. As part of their integrity program, the Commission once again put together a group of investigators--this time from nine states, plus...

4th-Presque Isle Downs, $49,500, Hcp, 9-18, 3yo/up, 6f (AWT), 1:08.72, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. CLOSETHEGAME SUGAR (g, 3, Girvin--Casual Cocktail, by Magna Graduate), a debut winner in a single start at two sprinting on the turf at Saratoga, was narrowly beaten in this track's Tom Ridge S. on his seasonal return June 5. The Brereton Jones-bred registered a 19-1 upset of the Aug. 13 Mahony S. at the Spa and was backing up quickly off a fourth in the GII Franklin-Stamps S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 9. Favored at 19-10...

After a weekend of graded racing action from Aqueduct to Woodbine, the scene shifts on Monday to Presque Isle Downs as they host the Masters S., a Grade II event going six and a half furlongs over the Tapeta. Out of this field of 12, most of the gravitas will be directed towards Roses for Debra (Liam's Map). With seven wins over nine races, the 4-year-old gray filly won the GIII Caress S. at Saratoga July 22 and then followed that up over the same turf course with a victory...

The promising 2-eary-old filly Kenwick (Bernardini) may have won in Pennsylvania, but her pedigree shouts Lexington KY from the very rooftops of two local neighborhoods. Kenwick is a central residential area of the city, while Bell Court, as in the dam's name, is an almost adjacent zone, closer to downtown. Both areas have an Old America feel to them: nothing fake, nothing too gentrified, just authentic, with a touch of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" ambiance. There is in fact a small theatre in the Bell House in Bell Court: the...

4th-Presque Isle Downs, $30,150, Msw, 9-5, 2yo, 6f (AWT), 1:10.67, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. BANNEKER (c, 2, Not This Time--Bosserette, by Street Boss), a $210,000 Keeneland September purchase, was the lone firster in a field of five and turned in a dominating debut effort. Off as the 29-10 second choice, the attractive dark bay broke on terms, but was content to take a trail from third through the middle stages. Going ominously well under a full-Nelson nearing the stretch, he was eased out and around odds-on Hector (Maclean's Music) in...

5th-Presque Isle Downs, $29,900, Msw, 8-23, 2yo, 5 1/2f (AWT), 1:04.41, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. VOTE NO (g, 2, Divisidero--Sistas Ready, by More Than Ready) became the first winner for his Airdrie Stud-based freshman sire (by Kitten's Joy) with this debut win. The 5-2 chance forced the issue in an outside third, set his sights on the leader on the far turn and powered clear in the stretch to graduate by 1 1/2 lengths. Sales history: $7,500 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $11,000 Ylg '22 OBSOCT; $50,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record:...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. The TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from the same week. These will include decisions from around the country. California Track: Del Mar Date: 08/17/2023 Licensee: Tiago Pereira, jockey Penalty: Three-day...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. The TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from the same week. These will include decisions from around the country. New York Track: Saratoga Date: 07/12/2023 Licensee: Tyler Gaffalione, jockey Penalty: Three-day...

Since finishing third against open maidens on Parx debut May 6, it's been nothing but blue skies for Captain Courtney (Army Mule) and the bay made light work of her first stakes assignment in Monday's Malvern Rose S. at Presque Isle Downs. Just slightly beaten for speed as Scottish Symphony (Mendelssohn) led from the bell, the $90,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer settled nicely towards the inside and appeared loaded as they neared the stretch. Switched out to deliver her challenge, the response was almost immediate, as she swamped the pacesetter outside...

Presque Isle Downs will honor the career of one of the track's fan favorites, Stevis Man (Senor Amigo), with a race on July 26. The veteran campaigner recorded 20 of his 26 career wins at the Pennsylvania oval. Stevis Man was retired to the R.A.C.E. Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization after his last race on Oct. 24, 2022. After some let-down time, he was sent to Thoroughbred Placement Resources in Upper Marlboro, Marylad to eventually begin retraining for a second career. Both R.A.C.E. Fund and Thoroughbred Placement Resources are TAA...

Trainer Jamie Ness earned the 4,000th win of his career when Sing Scat (Irish War Cry), a 3-year-old filly he co-owns, captured the first race at Laurel Park Sunday. The victory was the 27th in the month of July for Ness and extended his win streak to 17 calendar days between Laurel, Delaware Park and Parx that dates back to June 30. It was also the second career milestone Ness has reached at Laurel where he earned his 2,000th win with Caylee's Song on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 2013. "Luckily,...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. The TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from the same week. These will include decisions from around the country. California Track: Los Alamitos Date: 07/08/2023 Licensee: Rene Amescua, trainer Penalty: $2,400...