The most prestigious race contested each year at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania is coming up on Friday: the $300,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes.
The Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters is a sprint for fillies and mares dashing 6 1/2 furlongs on Presque Isle’s all-weather Tapeta Footings surface. This year’s edition has drawn a competitive nine-horse field. I rate #5 Reagan’s Flame as the mare to beat for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who has won this race twice with Artie’s Princess (2022) and Accomplished Girl (2023).
Reagan’s Flame has won multiple races on dirt and turf, but she’s been most effective on Tapeta, compiling a 3-for-4 record. First, she won a 1 1/16-mile handicap at Gulfstream Park by 6 1/4 lengths. Then she went to Woodbine and took the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes over three-quarters of a mile, winning by two lengths. Most recently, she won Woodbine’s Grade 3 Seaway Stakes sprinting seven-eighths of a mile by 3 1/4 lengths.
The only blemish on Reagan’s Flame’s Tapeta record is a third-place finish in Woodbine’s 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes. But even this was a solid effort. She bumped with a rival at the start, wound up behind horses, and dropped farther off the pace than usual. Nevertheless, she rallied well to finish third, beaten by 2 1/4 lengths.
The fact Reagan’s Flame has repeatedly demonstrated her all-weather ability while competing in graded stakes at a variety of distances is appealing. There’s a good chance she’ll shine while taking her talents to Presque Isle Downs, so we recommend placing a win bet on Reagan’s Flame.
You may also wish to spend a bit more and bet an exacta, which requires selecting the top two finishers in order. If so, we recommend playing Reagan’s Flame on top while using #3 Paradise City, #6 Pondering, and #8 Lovely Emma for second place.
Paradise City, another Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee, has shown talent at a variety of distances on dirt and turf and may produce a big run in her Tapeta debut.
Pondering proved effective on Tapeta when taking the Grade 3 Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine last fall. She’s struggled in three starts on turf this year but may rebound while returning to an all-weather surface.
Lovely Emma, a three-time winner this year, is trying Tapeta after finishing third in the Hummingbird Stakes on turf at Ellis Park.
Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget
$10 to win on #5 Reagan’s Flame
What to say at the betting window: Presque Isle Downs, Race 9, $10 to win on 5
Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget
$18 to win on #5 Reagan’s Flame
What to say at the betting window: Presque Isle Downs, Race 9, $18 to win on 5
$4 exacta: 5 with 3,6,8 (total cost: $12)
What to say at the betting window: Presque Isle Downs, Race 9, $4 exacta 5 with 3,6,8 ($12)
Good luck, and enjoy the race!
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