'Macy Sue' targets Masters repeat

With trainer Bob Baffert electing to skip the $400,000 Presque Isle Masters with Indian Blessing, Dream Rush and defending Masters champ Miss Macy Sue will be left to fight it out as the likely favorites in the full field of 12 fillies and mares Saturday at the Erie, Pa., track.

Miss Macy Sue won the first running of the Presque Isle Masters last year, setting a track record of 1:08.21 for the six-furlong distance that still stands. Trained by Kelly Von Hemel, the 5-year-old Miss Macy Sue won the Saylorville at Prairie Meadows two starts ago on June 27, before going to Saratoga and running fourth as the favorite in the Gradeo2 Honorable Miss. Eddie Razo Jr. retains the mount.

Miss Macy Sue has the ability to lay just off the early pace, a style that should suit her well in this speed-laden field.

Dream Rush, formerly trained by Richard Violette for whom she won a pair of Grade 1 events, the Test and Prioress, makes her first start for William Phipps. This year Dream Rush finished second in the Grade 2 Vagrancy at Belmont in May and third in the Grade 1 Princess Rooney at Calder in July. She has had some nice works at Saratoga, including a best-of-64 half-mile work in 48.29 seconds on Sept. 8. She will be ridden by Dale Beckner for the first time.

The others in the field are Hadavision, Ride Em Cowgirl, Dublin Duchess, Miss Blue Tye Dye, Artemis Priss, Dhanyata, Oelectra, Scalinatella, Jazzy, and Wild Gams. Lucky Mama is the lone also-eligible.