Living The Life seeks third straight Masters win
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
The Southern California-based mare Living The Life will try to win the premier race of the Presque Isle Downs season for the third straight year when she makes her first start in 2 1/2 months in Monday night’s Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters.
That the 6-year-old Living The Life hasn’t raced since July 3 shouldn’t deter bettors. She was making her first start in about two months when she won last year’s 6 1/2-furlong Masters for fillies and mares by three-quarters of a length. She had a month between races when she won the Masters by a half-length in 2014.
Living The Life’s 10 opponents Monday include Disco Barbie, who won the local prep for the Masters by a nose over the 3-year-old filly Cactus Copy and was a close second in the 2014 Masters; Cactus Kris, the winner of the Grade 3 Hendrie at Woodbine in May and a close fourth in each of the last two runnings of the Masters; Elusive Collection, who cuts back slightly in distance after finishing a close second in the Grade 3 Seaway at Woodbine three weeks ago; and Sarah Sis, who won the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap the last time she raced on a synthetic surface in late June.
Presque Isle Masters, Race 5
Living The Life, by Footstepsinthesand
Last 3 Beyers: 38-95-83
◗ After five consecutive routes, she cuts back to a sprint for the first time since finishing fourth in the Grade 2, seven-furlong Santa Monica on dirt in January. Her lone win in six starts this season came against males in the Grade 3 All American going a mile at Golden Gate Fields.
Disco Barbie, by Pure Prize
Last 3 Beyers: 81-90-90
◗ Owns three straight wins over the local course, where she is 6 for 9 with three runner-up finishes. Her chances far exceed her 10-1 program odds.
Cactus Kris, by Cactus Ridge
Last 3 Beyers: 90-91-89
◗ She was the beaten favorite at 9-5 in the Seaway Stakes three weeks ago, finishing third. She was third in that same stakes a year ago and returned to lose by just 2 1/2 lengths to Living The Life in the Masters. Coupled with Cactus Copy, who just missed against Disco Barbie on Aug. 30.
Elusive Collection, by Elusive Quality
Last 3 Beyers: 96-91-91
◗ Makes the second start of her form cycle after a good effort in the seven-furlong Seaway. Josie Carroll is 4 for 10 with horses who finished in the money last time out making their second start off a layoff in a sprint on synthetic surfaces.
Sarah Sis, by Sharp Humor
Last 3 Beyers: 62-57-91
◗ She hasn’t been worse than second in three starts on synthetic surfaces, including her wire-to-wire win going seven furlongs in the Chicago Handicap.
Birdatthewire, by Summer Bird
Last 3 Beyers: 95-87-92
◗ Grade 1 winner on dirt makes her synthetic debut for Dale Romans, who scored with longshots at 17-1 and 7-1 who were making their first starts on synthetic in graded stakes.