Artie Hot enters off stakes win

Artie Hot heads a field of nine older horses in the $100,000 Lake Erie at Presque Isle Downs on Saturday evening. Trained by Nicholas Gonzalez, Artie Hot comes off a win in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup at Woodbine on July 27, making him the only horse in the field to win a graded stakes this year.

Prior to his Seagram Cup win, the 4-year-old son of Black Minnaloushe ran second in an allowance race at Woodbine, beaten only a neck after leading in the stretch. Both races were 1 1/16 miles, slightly longer than the mile-and-70-yard distance of the Lake Erie. Artie Hot's last win prior to the Seagram Cup was Sept. 30, 2007, when he won the $151,000 Ontario Derby. Dale Beckner will Ride Artie Hot for the first time in the Lake Erie.

J's Sundance Halo comes in off an upset victory in the $100,000 Leeward here Aug. 23. In that one-mile event, the Gerald Bennett trainee was kept just off the pace to rally into the stretch and win by two lengths, returning a hefty $39.40. He earned a lifetime-high Beyer Speed Figure of 99 in the Leeward, the highest last-race figure of any of the nine Lake Erie starters. The 4-year-old son of Fappie's Notebook has won 4 of his last 5 races and could still be improving. Luis Gonzalez retains the mount.

Shake the Bank comes into the Lake Erie off a disappointing second in a one-mile allowance race here Aug. 28 when sent off as the 4-5 favorite. Trained by Graham Motion, Shake the Bank has an abundance of early speed and a lot of back class. In his first out this year on June 7, Shake the Bank led to upper stretch in the 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap on the turf at Belmont. He faded to seventh at the wire, beaten only 4 1/4 lengths. Willie Martinez will ride.

Others in the field include Frisco Star, Yankee Master, Tashbaan, Blue Mon, Andiamo, and Hyracotherium.