Strong synthetic runners square off in Tuesday feature

A pair of mares with an affinity for the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs will meet for the first time in Tuesday’s $37,000 feature going 6 1/2 furlongs.

Jamraa, who has recorded five of her six lifetime victories at Presque Isle, and Ms. Rhetta, who has been part of the exacta in 11 of 16 starts locally, head 10 fillies and mares in a second-level $40,000 optional claiming race that goes as race 4 at 6:40 p.m. Eastern. The 5-year-old Jamraa and the 7-year-old Ms. Rhetta are among six horses entered for the $40,000 tag.

Jamraa, part of a coupled entry for trainer Tim Girten, steps up in class following a fourth-place finish running for $25,000 at Keeneland. She won twice against $16,000 company last season, including a wire-to-wire score going a mile locally in September. Mario Pino, who was aboard when Jamraa last won in October at Keeneland, has the mount.

Ms. Rhetta has been off since romping on dirt in a high-quality allowance sprint at Mountaineer last November. Her other win in 2013 came at the same level as Tuesday’s race last July at Presque Isle. The long layoff should not be a problem for Ms. Rhetta, whose trainer, Matt Kintz, is winless in 14 starts this season. A year ago, Ms. Rhetta returned from nearly a seven-month layoff to finish second at 10-1 at the precise distance and conditions as Tuesday’s feature.

Girten will also send out the 4-year-old Platinum Steel, who drops off a pair of dull performances for a $50,000 tag at Keeneland. The last time she raced at Presque Isle, Platinum Steel cleared her first allowance condition going a mile and 70 yards.

A return to Presque Isle could also benefit Ghost Flower. She raced well locally in 2013, winning a six-furlong allowance and finishing second at 40-1 odds in the Inaugural Stakes.

Disco Barbie has raced exclusively on dirt in seven starts and was stakes placed three times, including a close second going two turns at Delaware Park in one of only two starts she made in 2013. Maryland-based trainer Dale Capuano is off to an uncharacteristic 6-for-86 start in 2014 but shows 16 percent success (8 for 50) with horses racing on a synthetic surface for the first time.