Bar of Gold won't settle for silver in Presque Isle Masters

The honest mare Bar of Gold has accomplished a lot since beginning her career in August 2014, building a bankroll of $918,500 to date. But one goal has eluded her.

“Maybe [we’ll] get out of the New York condition and finally win a graded stakes with her,” trainer John Kimmel said. “She’s placed in Grade 1s and hasn’t gotten a graded stake yet.”

Bar of Gold will take another crack at getting that elusive graded win in the Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Masters on Monday night. The Pennsylvania track’s signature event has drawn an overflow field of fillies and mares that includes two-time Grade 3 winner Ami’s Mesa.

Bar of Gold finished third in last year’s Masters, her only try at the 6 1/2-furlong distance and her only start on a synthetic surface. The versatile mare is coming off three straight turf races. She finished third against open company in the De La Rose, beaten less than a length, before winning the Yaddo, stalking the pace in third and rallying up the hedge to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

“This horse has had some really difficult trips,” Kimmel said. “I thought there were some races she should’ve won. She’s been banging heads against some of the best ones.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard for all three of Bar of Gold’s starts this year, will ride her from post 12.

“He’s really getting to know her and getting confident with her now,” Kimmel said.

Amy’s Mesa puts an unbeaten season on the line while cutting back in distance. The Woodbine-based synthetic specialist won the Grade 3 Ontario Matron by a length two starts back, then rolled by 6 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Seaway.

“I think she’s as good as she can be,” trainer Josie Carroll said. “I thought she was explosive [last out].”

Ginger N Rye would give the top two a tussle if she opts for this spot, as she is cross-entered in Saturday’s Sensible Lady Turf Dash at Laurel Park. The filly has won both of her starts this year going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga turf, most recently posting a sharp win in the Smart N Fancy Stakes.

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Code Warrior is another who has been at home on Woodbine’s synthetic, winning the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs earlier this year. She is looking to rebound after finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Royal North on turf.

Minks Aprise and Tulsa Queen are also stakes winners at Woodbine this year. Tulsa Queen has never finished off the board at Presque Isle, where she was a stakes winner last year as a juvenile.

Clothes Fall Off has won back-to-back runnings of the Correction at Aqueduct but has never run on synthetic. Cavalia has won three consecutive races at 6 1/2 furlongs at Presque Isle but will be stepping far up in class.

The main body of the field is completed by the Grade 3-placed Indulgent, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted; Pretty Perfection, a multiple stakes winner on the Gulfstream turf this year and stakes-placed over the summer at Presque Isle; Candid Cathy, who is 6 for 9 at Presque Isle; and Carolina Shag, ninth in the Smart N Fancy.

Artesian, the runner-up to Cavalia in her most recent outing, and Lady Oak, an allowance winner last out, are the also-eligibles.

The Masters anchors an eight-race card that begins at 5:25 p.m. Eastern. The feature is the fifth race at 7:15.

Key contenders

Bar of Gold, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 96-91-90

◗ In addition to finishing third in last year’s Masters, she was second to Cavorting in both the Grade 1 Test and Grade 2 Prioress, second in both the Grade 2 Raven Run and Grade 2 Ruffian, and third in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap and Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses.

◗ Owns the field’s top Beyer Speed Figure with a 109 assigned for her 18-length romp in last year’s Empire Distaff against her fellow New York-breds.

Ami’s Mesa, by Sky Mesa
Last 3 Beyers: 101-89-88

◗ Owns field’s top last-out Beyer.

◗ Has never raced at a distance shorter than seven furlongs and may have a lack of committed speed ahead of her to target, with Cavalia the only entrant to have won on the lead this year.

◗ Drew post 7 under regular rider Luis Contreras.