Jose Sea View seeks second local stakes win in Tom Ridge

Jose Sea View will try to improve his Presque Isle Downs record to 2 for 2 when he heads a field of eight 3-year-olds in the $100,000 Tom Ridge on Monday.

Trained by Woodbine-based Reade Baker, Jose Sea View won the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial at Presque Isle last September as the odds-on favorite. The Dixon was his second career start and followed a maiden win at Woodbine on Aug. 11.

Baker sent Jose Sea View to the Grade 2 Nashua at Aqueduct for his next start, and he finished fifth. In his final 2-year-old start, Jose Sea View won the $134,000 Display at Woodbine going 1 1/16 miles.

In his first start this year, Jose Sea View finished second going six furlongs in the $127,000 Woodstock at Woodbine on April 20.

“He was just off the early lead, and the front-runners all fell apart,” Baker said. “The winner came from way out of it.”

There is an abundance of early speed in the six-furlong Tom Ridge, but Baker is not worried about Jose Sea View getting caught up in a speed duel.

“He doesn’t have to have the lead, but they will positively have to have speed to beat him,” he said.

Baker hopes to try Jose Sea View on turf soon. Jose Sea View is a gelded son of Badge of Silver.

“I think he will be a turf specialist,” he said. “He is from an underrated turf sire, and I think he will be good on the turf at a mile or a mile and a sixteenth.”

Regular rider Emma-Jayne Wilson will be in to ride.

Brays Secret made all three of his career starts here last season, winning twice. He won his maiden in front-running style and then took an optional-claiming race in come-from-behind fashion. He closed out his campaign by finishing third in the Fitz Dixon. His versatility will serve him well in this speed-laden field.

The field also includes Choctaw Chuck, Cee ’ n O, Mister Pollard, Four More, and Chippewawhitechief. Springs R Loaded is cross-entered in the final race on the card, an entry-level allowance event in which he is the 5-2 second choice in a six-horse field.