Vulnerable favorites in Presque Isle Mile
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Great Minds, the winner of the Grade 3 Texas Mile this past spring, and Ghost Hunter, riding a four-race winning streak since late June, are the lukewarm favorites on the track’s morning line for Sunday night’s $200,000 Presque Isle Mile. But it might be wise to shop for a price among a full field for the second-richest race of the meet.
Great Minds (4-1) has never raced on a synthetic surface and is just 1 for 13 on turf, a surface that often portends success on Presque Isle’s Tapeta main track. Likewise, Ghost Hunter (9-2) came into last year’s Mile with similarly sharp form, having won three straight, only to finish fifth at 6-1 odds.
Viable alternatives are two Europeans with just one American start apiece this season, Il Segreto and Postulation.
Il Segreto, trained by Christophe Clement, led until deep stretch of the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger at Monmouth Park, his first start since arriving from France. He ran well in all three of his races on synthetic surfaces in Europe.
Postulation, based at Fair Hill with trainer Ed Graham, made his first start in 13 months in the local prep for the Presque Isle Mile, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Ghost Hunter.
◗ On the undercard, Diamond Dollar, who defeated males two weeks ago in the Mark McDermott Stakes, wheels back to face seven other Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-old fillies in the $100,000 Mrs. Henry Paxson Memorial at six furlongs.
Presque Isle Mile, Race 6
KEY CONTENDERS
Ghost Hunter, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-83
◗ This 6-year-old is 6 for 7 locally, with the lone loss coming in last year’s Mile. Despite his sharp form, he gets in with 11 pounds fewer than 124-pound highweight Great Minds, who is a Grade 3 winner on dirt but is unproven on Tapeta.
Postulation, by Harlan’s Holiday
Beyers: 88-89
◗ The last time he raced a mile on a synthetic surface, he won an allowance in Ireland. He should be tighter for his second start since July 2015 for a trainer who is 5 for 11 (45 percent) the second time off a layoff in routes.
Il Segreto, by Turtle Bowl
Beyer: 95
◗ First and second the last two times he raced a mile in France. The horse he beat by a half-length in April, Vendome, was third in a Group 3 stakes in Europe this season.
Mister Nofty, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 89-84-78
◗ Pennsylvania-bred 3-year-old has won four of his last five but will be making his synthetic debut for a trainer who is 2 for 19 with first-time-synthetic runners.