Florida Won finds room along rail in Presque Isle Mile

Woodbine shipper Florida Won, coming off a victory in a Grade 3 stakes at his home track, delivered as the 2-1 favorite in Sunday’s $200,000 Presque Isle Mile.

Jockey Patrick Husbands, who sat patiently in seventh through the first six furlongs, found an opening along the rail and the 4-year-old Florida Won ($6.60) responded in deep stretch to win by three-quarters of a length over 5-2 second choice Midnight Cello. Decisive Moment, the early pacesetter through fractions of 47.64 seconds and 1:12.01, finished third by a neck. Are You Kidding Me, a two-time Grade 2 winner in Canada this summer, got fourth at 3-1 by a nose over Ghost Hunter, whose rally was blunted when he got bumped by a tiring Abraham in the stretch.

The winning time was 1:36.64.

Catherine Sullivan, an assistant to winning trainer Mark Casse, said she had some concerns when Florida Won was far back and in traffic.

“I was a bit worried that he wouldn’t find room,” Sullivan said. “But I have a lot of faith in Patrick. He saved ground and the horse kicked in. This is a horse that tries every time.”

Florida Won is now 4 for 11 lifetime with earnings of $361,903. In four starts on synthetic surfaces, he has three wins, including the Grade 3 Ontario Derby and the Grade 3 Seagram Cup, and one second.

Potts, Elkstone Group repeat in McDermott

Trainer Ron Potts and owner The Elkstone Group captured the $75,000 Mark McDermott Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-olds for the second straight year when Balk rallied from third in deep stretch.

Balk ($4.60), part of a favored coupled entry with Total Futbol, made up a 2 1/2-length deficit in the final furlong and scored by 1 3/4 lengths under Erick Rodriguez after running six furlongs in 1:10.79.

Morning Fire, who led at the stretch call by a head over Total Futbol, held second by a head over Bella Flor.