Adhrhythm tops big cast at Presque Isle

The trend of short fields in stakes races at Presque Isle Downs ends Saturday when 12 fillies and mares go to the post in the $100,000 Windward. It also appears to be a great betting race, with 6 of the 11 trainers in the race winning at a 30opercent clip or better with their starters this year at Presque Isle.

Adhrhythm looks to be the slight favorite for trainer Merrill Scherer after winning her last two starts. The 4-year-old won the $75,000 Golden Sylvia Handicap on June 17 going a mile at Mountaineer Park by two lengths. She came back Aug. 2 to win a one-mile allowance race here by a half-length. Adhrhythm is now 2 for 2 over the Presque Isle Tapeta surface and has earned more than $536,000 for her connections, winning 7 of 21 races lifetime. Two of her wins have come at the one-mile distance, the same as the Windward. Dale Beckner retains the mount

Trainer Mike Matz hopes he has found an easier spot for Street Sounds. The 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry has run in graded stakes in six of her last seven races, dating back to last year.

This season, Street Sounds ran second in the Grade 2 Madison at Keeneland on April 9 and then third in the Grade 3 Hendrie at Woodbine on May 11. Her next two outings were over the turf, where she finished fifth in the Grade 3 Mint Julep at Churchill Downs on June 14 and then fourth in the $78,000 Mariensky at Belmont Park over a yielding turf course July 5. Miguel Mena will ride.

Spectacular Malibu comes into the Windward off a second-place finish behind Adhrhythm in an allowance race Aug. 2, beaten only a half-length. A Michael Trombetta trainee, Spectacular Malibu ran second in the $60,000 Geisha at Pimlico on April 19 by a head, and then won an optional claimer at Belmont on Mayo15, earning a lifetime-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94. If she returns to that form, should have a say in the outcome. Trombetta has won with 39 percent of his starters at Presque Isle this year - 7 of 18 - and only three of his starters failed to hit the board. Ronnie Allen Jr. retains the mount.