Woodbine stakes winners meet in Tom Ridge Stakes

Noholdingback Bear and Don’t Be So Salty, both winners of $125,000 stakes on synthetic surfaces at Woodbine, bring strong credentials into Monday’s $100,000 Tom Ridge Stakes for 3-year-olds at Presque Isle Downs.

The six-furlong Tom Ridge, the first stakes of the season at the Erie, Pa., track, drew a field of 11, including a coupled entry for owner Clyde Rice.

Based on recent form, Noholdingback Bear should go favored, although he is the 4-1 second choice on the track’s morning line. He’s 2 for 2 on synthetics, winning his career debut on Polytrack last September and scoring by 4 1/2 lengths as the 3-5 favorite in the six-furlong Woodstock on Woodbine’s new Tapeta surface April 17.

Don’t Be So Salty, the 3-1 program choice, gets nine pounds from 123-pound highweight Noholdingback Bear. In his lone previous start at Presque Isle last September, Don’t Be So Salty scored by nearly 10 lengths in an allowance. He also won the 1 1/16-mile Display at Woodbine. He will be cutting back to a sprint after six consecutive routes since October.

The field also includes Balk, a two-time stakes winner locally last season; Maryland shipper Bobcat, unbeaten in two sprint starts on dirt; and Woodbine-based Holding Gold, 2 for 2 on synthetics.

Tom Ridge, Race 5

KEY CONTENDERS

Noholdingback Bear, by Put It Back

Last 3 Beyers: 89-72-80

◗ Top rider Eurico Da Silva, who is 2 for 2 aboard this colt, makes the trip from Toronto. Trainer Mike De Paulo is 2 for 7 with 3-year-old last-out winners making their second start off a layoff but has not run a horse at Presque Isle within the past five years.

Don’t Be So Salty, by Tiz Wonderful

Last 3 Beyers: 77-79-83

◗ He gets class relief after running in the Grade 3 Spiral at Turfway Park and the Grade 3 Palm Beach on turf at Gulfstream Park. His romp at Presque Isle came when he was with local trainer Adam Rice. He’s now trained by Gary Contessa, who shows no starts at Presque Isle in the last five years.

Balk, by Street Boss

Last 3 Beyers: 48-71-62

◗ He won back-to-back stakes locally, then lost three straight on dirt and will be making his first start since December.

Holding Gold, by Lonhro

Last 3 Beyers: 82-31-82

◗ Only loss came when he experimented on dirt in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special. Came from off the pace to win a first-level optional $75,000 claimer going five furlongs in his 3-year-old debut April 10.

Bobcat, by Orientate

Last 2 Beyers: 73-73

◗ Ships in for Dale Capuano, Presque Isle’s top trainer in 2014, after winning twice on dirt. Gets Antonio Gallardo, the dominant rider locally in each of the past two seasons.