Presque Isle: Ahvee’s Destiny, in final season, still plenty fast

Ahvee’s Destiny returns to Presque Isle Downs in her final season of racing Tuesday to face eight other older fillies and mares in a $54,000 allowance at five furlongs over the Tapeta surface.

Trained by Linda Rice, the 7-year-old Ahvee’s Destiny has run twice locally. In 2010, she won the Satin and Lace going 5 1/2 furlongs over the Tapeta surface. This season, Ahvee’s Destiny finished sixth on May 17 in an allowance event going five furlongs on Tapeta.

Rice explained her poor performance, saying: “She didn’t get away well and she was coming into that race off a layoff. She definitely wasn’t doing as well as she is now.”

Rice pointed to Ahvee’s Destiny’s most recent win as a sign of how well she is doing. Ahvee’s Destiny won the Aug. 1 Smart and Fancy, a turf sprint at Saratoga.

“I think it was the third year in a row she won a stake there,” Rice said. “She is doing really well.”

In her most recent out, Ahvee’s Destiny finished ninth, beaten 5 1/4 lengths in the $200,000 Turf Amazon. Rice dismisses her performance in the five-furlong turf sprint, which came Sept. 5 at Parx.

“She had a really awkward start and wasn’t in her normal stalking position like she is used to, and was in a big field,” Rice said.

Ahvee’s Destiny did make up five lengths in the stretch in that event.

Rice said Ahvee’s Destiny will be bred after this year.

Harry Vega, aboard in both local starts, retains the mount on Ahvee’s Destiny on Tuesday.

Bob’s Dylan should be one of the early pacesetters under Jeremia Flores. Trained by Michael Ferraro, Bob’s Dylan won an optional allowance at Presque Isle by three lengths Aug. 20. A 6-year-old mare, she led from start to finish in that six-furlong race.

In her most recent out, which came here Sept. 14, Bob’s Dylan finished second in an open allowance, beaten 1 1/4 lengths after leading or pressing for the lead until midstretch. The turn-back in distance should be to her advantage.

Others in the field are Denali Glitter, Tremedamante Loca, Freedom Land, Old Time Religion, My Lost Silver, and the entry of Zonga Zing and Kinsolving.