Bound to Nowhere won't have to face toughest rival in Tom Ridge Stakes

Bound for Nowhere's assignment in his stakes debut became considerably easier Saturday afternoon when his chief rival, Proforma, ran in the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico, finishing fifth at 7-1.

Without Profoma, who was expected to vie for favoritism on the basis on his win in the Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds in January, Bound for Nowhere figures to be an odds-on choice in Monday’s $100,000 Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle Downs.

The six-furlong Tom Ridge goes as race 5 at 7:05 p.m. Eastern and drew 11 3-year-olds, including a coupled entry for trainer Wayne Rice.

Bound for Nowhere, owned and trained by Wesley Ward, easily won his career debut at Turfway Park in January, then was freshened before scoring a first-level allowance victory at Keeneland on turf, beating 11 horses and earning an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.

En Hanse, the winner of the WEBN Stakes sprinting on Turfway’s Polytrack in February, figures to be Bound for Nowhere's chief challenger. He hasn’t come close to matching that 83 Beyer in two subsequent two-turn stakes and a dirt sprint at Churchill Downs.

Tom Ridge, Race 5

KEY CONTENDERS

Bound for Nowhere, by The Factor

Beyers: 89-70

◗ The big win at Keeneland and high-profile trainer Ward will attract a lot of money. Ward is 3 for 8 (38 percent) with last-out winners switching from turf to synthetic in sprints. He’s 5 for 16 (31 percent) with sprinters at Presque Isle but 0 for 4 in stakes.

En Hanse, by Hansen

Last 3 Beyers: 61-60-72

◗ The always-dangerous Mike Maker is 7 for 23 (30 percent) with sprinters going from dirt to synthetic while returning in fewer than 30 days. But Maker is just 4 for 25 (16 percent) with sprinters at Presque Isle, including 0 for 4 in stakes.

◗ Jose Ortiz comes in from New York to ride. In stakes, Ortiz and Maker are just 3 for 24 together over the past two years.

Made to Fit, by Custom for Carlos

Last 3 Beyers: 40-48-68

◗ Granted, his two races this season weren’t good, but based on his 2-year-form locally, his chances exceed his 20-1 morning-line price. He won two sprints and was beaten less than four lengths in a stakes. Could very well outrun his odds for a trainer who has a win and two close seconds from four starters going from turf to synthetic and from routes to sprints.

The Cookie Man, by Wildcat Heir

Last 3 Beyers: 64-54-77

Ran well in his first two starts of the season sprinting on dirt before tailing off when he stepped up to stakes company and then experimented going long on turf. Keep in mind Teresa Connelly has been Presque Isle's leading trainer the past two seasons and she didn't manage that feat by misplacing her stock.

Ballandeen, by Bernardini

Last 3 Beyers: 59-68-78

He has faced some heavy hitters, including Conquest Mo Money and Gunnevera, during his nine-race career. Returns to sprinting for first time since early March.