Potts has pair for Mark McDermott Stakes

Stablemates Afterburner and Kitchen Fire will again be in close quarters, drawn side-by-side in the starting gate for Sunday’s $100,000 Mark McDermott Stakes over the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs. The six-furlong race is restricted to Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-olds.

Afterburner, owned and trained by Ron Potts, is the only member of the eight-horse field with stakes experience. The gelding won his debut at Presque Isle over I’m Corfu, a subsequent winner, then finished fourth in the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine with some traffic trouble. Most recently, he finished fifth in the Strike Your Colors Stakes at Delaware Park behind Kowboy Karma, who was expected to be a heavy favorite in Saturday’s Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park.

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Potts also trains Kitchen Fire for The Elkstone Group. The gelding has made both his starts at Presque Isle, winning his debut and then finishing third in an optional-claiming event. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 65, the best number in the field, in the latter effort. Driven by History, second in both those races, is a multiple winner.

Antonio Gallardo rides Afterburner for the first time, and the pair drew the rail. Kitchen Fire is next door in post 2 with regular rider Huber Villa-Gomez in the irons.

Maiden winner Uncle Archie finished second to Driven by History in a one-mile optional claimer last time out.

Tudox Expectations and Oldzfourfortytwo each is coming off a debut win at Presque Isle. Resolutionary, a debut winner at Penn National, and the maidens Colonel Moorhead and Creative Story complete the field.