Multiple grade I stakes winner Groupie Doll, who got a freshening in the spring and summer, is among the 12 fillies and mares entered in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (gr. II) at Presque Isle Downs & Casino the evening of Sept. 8.
Groupie Doll, owned by Fred and Buff Bradley, Carl Hurst, and Bret Burns, is considered among the top female sprinters in the United States. Trained by Buff Bradley, the 4-year-old Bowman's Band filly has been training sharply on the main track at Churchill Downs.
Groupie Doll, who has six wins in 13 starts, moved her game to another level earlier this year when blinkers were added. Bred by the Bradley family in their native Kentucky, Groupie Doll won the April 12 Madison Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland on Polytrack and the May 5 Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill on dirt in her last two starts.
Rajiv Maragh, who has ridden Groupie Doll in her last three starts, is named to ride at 123 pounds in the 6 1/2-furlong Masters, which is run on the artificial Tapeta surface at the Pennsylvania racetrack. In her only other start on a synthetic surface, Groupie Doll fell a head shy of winning the Raven Run Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Groupie Doll, one of the more popular Kentucky-based horses since the retirement of her stablemate, Brass Hat, has earned $687,850 thus far.
Also in at 123 pounds are William Clifton Jr.'s Kitty in a Tizzy, who won the Chicago Handicap (gr. III) at seven furlongs on the Polytrack at Arlington Park in her last start June 30, and Craig Singer's Salty Strike, winner of the one-mile Gardenia Stakes (gr. III) at Ellis Park in her last start Aug. 11.
Others in the Masters field include Holiday for Kitten, winner of the 2011 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland; It's Me Mom, who has won six of nine starts at Presque Isle; and Arianna D., who rallied from far back only to fall a neck shy of victorious Musical Romance in last year's Masters.
Musical Romance went on to win the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) at Churchill and an Eclipse Award for female sprinter of 2011.
The Masters is the sixth race on an eight-race card. First post time is 5:25 p.m. EDT, with the Masters set for 7:30 p.m. The card concludes with a $61,000 starter allowance marathon test at 2 1/8 miles.
$400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (gr. II, Race 6, 7:30 p.m. EDT), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 6 1/2 Furlongs (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Sweet Cassiopeia (KY), D Centeno, 118, W R Connelly
2. Atlantic Hurricane (FL), E Ramsammy, 115, S C Simon
3. Interrogate (PA), D M Lopez, 115, M S Ferraro
4 .Holy Heavens (FL), M G Pino, 115, J R Martin
5. Bouquet Booth (KY), S Spieth, 115, S Margolis
6. Holiday for Kitten (KY), R A Dominguez, 112, W A Ward
7. Groupie Doll (KY), R Maragh, 123, W Bradley
8. Sally Sally (KY), R Feliciano, 115, R D Walsh
9. Kitty in a Tizzy (KY), J R Leparoux, 123, H J Bond
10. It's Me Mom (FL), W Martinez, 118, L M Scace
11. Ariana D (PA), O Moreno, 112, L Silvera
12. Salty Strike (KY), P Morales 123, K G McPeek