Whistle Pig back at his favorite racetrack

Whistle Pig will try to continue his dominance over the Presque Isle Downs Tapeta surface Friday evening in the $75,000 Leemat, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for Pennsylvania-breds. Whistle Pig is 5 for 7 at Presque Isle in his career.

Trained by Andrew Carter, Whistle Pig has bankrolled nearly $600,000 and is owned by the HACK Stable. Although the 5-year-old gelding is based at Philadelphia Park, he has been at Presque Isle for the last three weeks, according to racing secretary Dave Frizzell.

"He has been stabled here since they closed at Philadelphia Park," Frizzell said. Philadelphia Park has been closed since Aug. 2 for planned maintenance on the track surface and will resume live racing again Aug. 29.

Whistle Pig has won two of his six races this year, including two of his last three. In his only Presque Isle outing this year, on June 20, he won the Presidentialaffair by three-quarters of a length. In his most recent out, July 21, Whistle Pig won an open third-level optional claiming race at Philadelphia Park by 2 3/4 lengths, and he looks primed for a big effort when he faces nine others in the Leemat. Whistle Pig won the Leemat last year by a length and a half and established a track record of 1:15.04.

Jockey Dale Beckner will be aboard Whistle Pig. He is 2 for 2 aboard Whistle Pig for Carter. Whistle Pig's off-the-pace style will suit him well in the race, as there is an abundance of speed for him to chase.

Brass Bay, a 3-year-old who has made all four of his starts at this meet, will be making his stakes debut. Brass Bay has finished first in 3 of 4 starts but was disqualified and placed third on July 24 for bearing in at the start.

Trained by Richie Kelly, Brass Bay has improved in each start and if he can continue to improve and the added distance suits him, he could be a contender. He has yet to run farther than six furlongs in his four outings.

Regular rider Willie Martinez will ride.