Monday Racing Picks 09/16: Presque Isle Masters
Past stakes winners square off in Monday’s Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters
The $400,000 Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes takes center stage Monday from Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa. The 11-horse field is set as race 6 of a 9-race card at 6 ½ furlongs for 3-year-olds and up for fillies and mares. The approximate post time is 7:35 p.m. ET.
#9, Talk Veuve to Me, Jose Ortiz, 6-1
Last year, Talk Veuve to Me won the G3 Indiana Oaks at Indiana Grand and finished second to Monomoy Girl in the G1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park. In 11 career starts, she is 3-3-1, including four starts this year at 1-0-1. Her only stakes this year was a 7th-place finish in the G1 Humana Distaff Stakes at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day. In here last start, she won by 3 ½ lengths with Ortiz aboard in an allowance optional claiming race at Saratoga on Aug. 11. With Ortiz back, I think she returns to her form from last year, despite the fact that this will be her first start on a synthetic track. Too experienced not to have a solid shot. The pick.
#10, Hotshot Anna, Antonio Gallardo, 3-1
The morning-line favorite and defending champion looks to become the fourth two-time winner of the track’s signature race since 2007, which has become a solid prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, to be held in less than two months at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 2. She has won six of her last seven races, including two straight, highlighted by her title defense in the $100,000 Satin and Lace Stakes here on Aug. 19. The only blemish during that win streak, a second-place finish in the $100,000 G3 Chicago Handicap at Arlington Park on June 29. Gallardo, who has been on Hotshot Anna for all of her starts here, returns to pilot. Gives up the trophy reluctantly, runner-up.
#3, Late Night Pow Wow, Fredy Peltroche, 4-1
In 14 career starts, she is a remarkable 12-1-1, including a 3-0-1 mark, but has not tried a synthetic surface until tonight. In her last start, she won the $75,000 Twixt Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths at Laurel Park on July 14 and prior to that finished third in the G1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland on April 6, which snapped a nine-race win streak. Winning is in her blood that’s for sure. In the mix.
#8, Mominou, Kendrick Carmouche, 7-2
In four starts this year, she has posted a 2-0-1 record. In her last start, she went wire-to-wire by 1 ½ lengths to capture the $200,000 Caress Stakes on the turf at Saratoga on July 21. Carmouche returns to try to win his second straight. Prefer others.
PICKS: 9-10-3-8.