Patience paid off for the connections of former classic starter Decisive Moment when the 6-year-old son of With Distinction halted an 18-race losing streak with a 10-1 upset in $200,000 Presque Isle Downs Mile in Erie, Pa (VIDEO).
Decisive Moment scored an entertaining front-running win for pick-up rider Willie Martinez. Substituting for Eduardo Nunez, he guided the 3-1 morning line favorite to an all-out head victory over 23-1 shot Allie's Event for owner/breeder Ruben Sierra's Just for Fun Stable and trainer Juan Arias.
The previous victory for Decisive Moment came as a 3-year-old in the Delta Mile Stakes Nov. 19, 2011 at Delta Downs. Earlier that year, Decisive Moment ran 14th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after finishing second in the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III).
For all his futility during a 34-race career that includes five wins—four in stakes—Decisive Moment is closing in on $1 million in career earnings. His latest win, worth $120,000, boosted his earnings to $908,556.
Carrying 113 pounds, Decisive Moment completed the mile over the Tapeta racing surface at Presque Isle Downs in 1:37.66, paying $22.80, $10, and $6.60 across the board. Allie's Event returned $19.20 and $7.60 while completing a $398.40 exacta. Viva Lad paid $6 to show, while lukewarm 3-1 favorite Joha checked in fourth.
In a classic case of thievery, Decisive Moment struck out on the early lead over 96-1 Machiavelique with first-time United States starter Horsted Keynes and Viva Lad stalking a slow pace; fractions were :25.60, :49.83, and 1:13.80. Decisive Moment continued to cling to the lead while racing into the stretch along the inside as Allie's Event rallied into contention for Antonio Gallardo.
Four battled across the track in upper stretch for the lead with Joha joining the fray on the outside and it looked likely that Decisive Moment would give way at any moment. But the front-runner was tenacious down the lane, responding to left-handed urging from Martinez when it appeared he had been headed in the final furlong by Allie's Event. Viva Lad yielded late along the inside under Deshawn Parker to be beaten a length, and Joha, despite of every opportunity, was a head behind the show horse after leveling out.
Decisive Moment, who is out of the Dehere mare Lady Samira, earned his first win from three starts on synthetic tracks. He was coming off a runner-up finish on yielding turf at Gulfstream Park in the Eight Miles East Stakes at 1 1/16 miles July 26. He was second by a head on dirt two months before that in the listed Memorial Handicap at Calder Casino & Race Course.
English import Horsted Keynes, who had won three of five starts on all-weather tracks in England, ran out of steam late to finish fifth in his first start for Graham Motion. Then came I'll Call, Mezzano, Developer, Machiavelique, Havelock, Admiral Perry, and A. P. Cino. Moonlight Express and Wise Mac scratched.
Decisive Moment wins the Presque Isle Mile.
Coady Photography