Given a second shot at her rival Miss Macy Sue in the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes, Wild Gams turned the tables on the favorite with a track-record victory by a half-length at the second-year Pennsylvania track Sept. 13.
Under powerful urging by Miguel Mena, Wild Gams reversed the order of last year's Masters with a big finish, wearing down Miss Macy Sue while rallying from the middle of the track. Under showery skies, the final time for the six-furlong event for fillies and mares was 1:07.95 over the all-weather surface.
A New Jersey homebred owned by New Farm, Wild Games is a 5-year-old daughter of Forest Wildcat trained by Ben Perkins.
Wild Gams, a three-time grade III winner, earned $240,000 for her ninth lifetime triumph in 22 starts and went over the $1 million mark in purses. She has now earned $1,138,486.
This was her second win over an artificial surface after capturing the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III) at Keenleland last fall. Wild Gams has won two of four starts in 2008, including the My Juliet at Philadelphia Park May 24.
Miss Macy Sue, who defeated Wild Gams by 1 1/2 lengths in last year's event, had a stalking trip and dueled from between horses in the lane for jockey Eusebio Razo Jr. She was outfought in the final strides while finishing four lengths in front of the show horse, Dream Rush.
The latter, sent off as the second choice, set a blistering pace of :21.40 and :43.54 before weakening in deep stretch. Wild Gams, racing mid-pack to the turn, made a steady progression while five wide into the lane. She finished in a drive on the outside of her rivals.
Wild Gams was beaten a neck in her most recent start, the First Flight Handicap (gr. II) over a muddy Belmont Park strip July 4.
Sent off as the third choice of the public, Wild Gams carried top weight of 121 pounds to victory and paid $8.40, $4 and $2.80. Miss Macy Sue, trained by Kelly Von Hemel returned $3.4 and $2.80. Dream Rush, ridden by Dale Beckner for trainer William Phipps, paid $3.60.
Jazzy ran fourth.
Wild Gams is out of Diamond and Legs, by Quiet American.
Wild Gams takes the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes over Miss Macy Sue.
