Shaggy Mane Eyes Rich Presque Isle Downs Masters

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Photo: AP/Equi-Photo

Shaggy Mane is one of 39 fillies and mares nominated to the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes.

From Presque Isle Downs

Shaggy Mane, who finished second in the July 7 Princess Rooney Stakes (gr. I) at Calder Race Course, is considered to be “a good possibility” to run in the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Sept. 15, racing secretary Joe Narcavish said.

Shaggy Mane is one of 39 fillies and mares nominated to the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes, a six-furlong test designed to serve as a prep for the new $1-million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. The Masters will be the richest event of the 25-day inaugural meet at the track near Erie, Pa.

Shaggy Mane won a $300,000 Sunshine Millions event at Gulfstream Park earlier this year. All six of Shaggy Mane’s career victories have come at the six-furlong distance. She is trained by Don Chatlos, who also conditioned 2004 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner Singletary.

Three grade I winners--Appealing Zophie, Hot Storm, and River’s Prayer--are nominated to the Masters Stakes, as are graded-stakes winners Baroness Thatcher, Lady Belsara, Mary Delaney, Miraculous Miss, Miss Macy Sue, Sangrita, Vestry Lady, and Wild Gams.

Two other stakes--the $175,000 Presque Isle Mile and the $175,000 Karl Boyes Memorial Northwestern Pennsylvania Stakes, will be offered Sept. 15. Total purses on the eight-race program could approach $1 million, officials said.

Meanwhile, four track records were set on the Tapeta Footings surface Sept. 9 as a heavy rain fell. Ravalo won an allowance test in 1:08.26 for six furlongs; Zooming By won a $50,000 claiming race in 1:15.93 for 6 1/2 furlongs; Flaming Comet covered five furlongs in :57.74 in a $10,000 maiden claiming event; and Sir John Q won a $10,000 claimers in 1:37.38 for a mile.

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