Gigantic Breeze shows versatility in winning Presque Isle Mile

Taken out of his usual game plan, Gigantic Breeze went where the wind blew in the $200,000 Presque Isle Mile – and blew the race wide open under a cagey ride from Mario Pino on Sunday night at the Pennsylvania track.

Gigantic Breeze ($8) typically races on or near the lead, but when the gates opened Sunday night, the gelding was not away alertly from the rail and was forced to steady heading into the first turn. Pino wisely elected not to press the issue, allowing Gigantic Breeze to settle into stride. The gelding was eighth, more than seven lengths back, at the midway point of the one-mile race.

"We didn't get a good jump right out of there,” Pino said. “I hustled him one little stride, and I knew we couldn't [make up the position], so I sat on him. He took a deep breath around the first turn and really relaxed, and I said, 'OK, let's go to Plan B.' Around the three-eighths pole, he was just full of run, and we got a nice rail trip through the rest of the race."

Indeed, Gigantic Breeze began to make up ground while racing inside through the far turn. He shot through inside the leaders cutting the corner and powered clear down the stretch to win by four lengths.

The final time on the synthetic track was 1:35.62.

Defending race winner Ghost Hunter rallied on the outside to be second by a half-length over War Correspondent. The latter, making his first start since late April, held third by three-quarters over Western Elegance.

This was the first graded stakes victory for Gigantic Breeze, who was making his first foray outside of his home province of Ontario. The Giant's Causeway gelding won three consecutive optional-claiming events at Woodbine to open this season. He then finished second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes and third, beaten half a length, in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup, both won by Melmich.

Trainer Alex McPherson said that Gigantic Breeze has improved dramatically since being gelded as a 3-year-old.

"I can truthfully say that I think he's improved every race, including this one," McPherson said.

Stardoza wins Paxson Memorial

Earlier on the card, Stardoza wired the field for a 1 3/4-length score in the $100,000 Mrs. Henry D. Paxson Memorial Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Under Pablo Morales, Stardoza ($12.20) was away in good order from post 4 in the field of eight and scooted through the opening quarter in 22.85 while establishing a two-length lead. She continued to edge clear through the half in 46.36, took a three-length advantage into the stretch, and was never seriously threatened. She finished the six furlongs in 1:10.95.

O'Paddy was a clear second by 2 3/4 lengths over P. Sue, with the favored Bronx Beauty another length back, fading to fourth after chasing in second early.