Ami's Mesa back from layoff in Presque Isle Masters

Ami’s Mesa had won three consecutive races heading into her victory in last year’s Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Masters Stakes. This year, the circumstances are decidedly different as she returns to Pennsylvania. Ami’s Mesa has made just one start this season, finishing off the board in that, and will be looking to turn things around as she enters the starting gate Monday night off a five-month layoff.

The Masters, the richest and most prestigious event on Presque Isle’s schedule, is carded as the sixth of nine races Monday night, with a first post of 5:25 p.m. Eastern. The race has developed into a productive prep for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, as evidenced just last year, when Ami’s Mesa led Bar of Gold home by a length in the Masters. Bar of Gold went on to edge Ami’s Mesa by a nose in the Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar and was one of three Eclipse Award divisional finalists. The Masters also has been won by Eclipse champions Informed Decision (in 2009 and 2010), Musical Romance (2011), and Groupie Doll (2012 and 2013).

Ami’s Mesa, a 5-year-old Ontario-bred Sky Mesa mare trained by Josie Carroll, won an optional-claiming race, the Grade 3 Ontario Matron, and the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes at Woodbine prior to last year’s Presque Isle Masters and Filly and Mare Sprint. The latter was her first start on dirt.

Ami’s Mesa returned to the races from a five-month break in April and finished sixth, but beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes on Keeneland’s dirt track. She has not started since, but has been working steadily at her Woodbine base.

Regular rider Luis Contreras will be aboard Ami’s Mesa, who drew post 4 in an overflow cast, with 12 in the main body of the field.

Code Warrior also ships in from Woodbine and brings momentum for trainer Michael DePaulo. She has won 3 of 6 outings this year, including the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Let It Ride Mom and the Seaway by two lengths.

Let It Ride Mom won the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes to start her season for Mark Casse, but has lost all three outings since, with a second in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes, the second in the Matron, and, most recently, a fifth-place finish in the Seaway.

Lady Alexandra made a promising return from a nine-month layoff in April, winning the License Fee Stakes on the Belmont Park turf for trainer Graham Motion. She then finished second against males in the Grade 1 Highlander Stakes in June at Woodbine, beaten just a neck by Long On Value. She earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures for both those performances, making her one of only two runners in this field to reach that threshold this season.

Jose Ortiz, who was aboard Lady Alexandra for both her starts this year, is in to ride. The typically forwardly placed filly drew post 12.

Hotshot Anna led Crazy Sweet home by 3 3/4 lengths in the Satin N Lace last month at Presque Isle, which serves as a local prep for the Masters. It was the third straight victory for Hotshot Anna, with the streak also including the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap at Arlington with a Beyer of 100.

Princess La Quinta won the Grade 3 Matron Stakes in May at Arlington Park. Stakes winner Jean Elizabeth, never worse than second, comes in off back-to-back optional-claiming wins at the Chicago track.