'Loveme' showing his potential

Lovesmelovesmenot will attempt to make it two in a row this season when facing six other third-level older allowance horses at Presque Isle Downs on Tuesday evening in a 1 1/16-mile event.

Trained by Tim Hamm, the 4-year-old has posted both of his lifetime wins over Presque Isle's Tapeta surface. On July 26, the Congaree gelding won his maiden going a mile. In his only outing this year, he won a claiming event going a mile and 70 yards on May 15. Lovesmelovesmenot earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84 in that race, his lifetime best. Hamm thinks his charge has finally become the horse his connections thought he could be.

"We had one issue after another with him last year, I think that is all behind us." Hamm said.

The pace of Tuesday's race will not be a problem for Lovemelovesmenot.

"He can make his own pace," Hamm said. "That is one issue we had last year, he was rank and wouldn't settle down. That is not a problem now."

Daniel Centeno retains the mount.

Should Lovesmelovesmenot fail to fire, Devonshire could wire the field. Trained by Karl Grusmark, Devonshire has won his last two outings by a combined 18 lengths. The 3-year-old gelding posted both of those wins at Finger Lakes, and two questions will need to be answered: Will Devonshire handle the synthetic Tapeta surface and can he make the jump in class? Devonshire is the only 3-year-old in the field but has faced older in his last three races. Regular rider Omar Camejo will ship in to ride.

Indiana Downs: 'Coo Coo' tops feature

B L's Papa Coo Coo heads of field of talented starter-allowance horses at Indiana Downs on Tuesday evening. Nine older horses will meet at a mile over the main track. A case can be made for more than half the field. The race is open to horses who have started for a claiming price of $5,000 or less in 2009-2010.

Trained by Bernie Flint, B L's Papa Coo Coo won 8 of 16 races last year -- including all three of his starts for Flint after being claimed at Keeneland on Oct. 11. In his lone outing this season on May 30, he ran an even third in a starter allowance going six furlongs at Churchill Downs after being bumped at the start. The added distance should be to the advantage of B L's Papa Coo Coo as all three wins for Flint last season came at a mile or more.