Stakes Spot Plays for Presque Isle Down on Friday, September 18

The signature racing day at Presque Isle Downs will take place on Friday, where a handful of black-type tilts will highlight the 10-race card. 

Race 3 – Presque Isle Debutante S. 

Juvenile fillies will travel 6 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta to kick off the stakes action. I’m not sure what she beat on debut, and the filly will also take a huge class rise on a new surface, but #2 Our Sweet Belle (3-1) is very appealing to me. I love how the well-backed daughter of Cairo Prince drew off in her unveiling on the dirt, and I feel that she might be a nice prospect for Brandon Kulp. The price should be fair at post time, with Angel Rodriguez retaining the mount. 

Race 7 – Fitz Dixon, Jr. Memorial Juvenile S. 

A big field of 11 juvenile males will vie in a sprint on the synthetic in a very interesting spot. #10 Frost Rocket (4-1) drove home to a powerful win on the Woodbine lawn in his second lifetime outing and has since been moved to the barn of Graham Motion. The gray gelding responded to the removal of blinkers in his maiden win, and I expect him to be moving best of all in the stretch against this cast beneath Paco Lopez. 

Race 8 – Presque Isle Mile S. 

The 1 1/16-mile test attracted a cast of eight. The Scooter Davis-trained #5 He’s a Mess (7-1) would be a surprise to win the race, but I feel as though the eight-year-old could be a major exotics contender at a price in the heat. He owns 21 top-three results on the course and comes in with good form since having blinkers removed three back, too. The son of Dramedy was not disgraced when 4 3/4 lengths back in the race in 2025 and will go better on Friday under Gallardo. 

Race 9 – Presque Isle Masters (G2)

The headliner is for fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather oval with a nice field set to go postward. #7 Mitole Magic (8-1) is not the most talented runner in the field for trainer Randall Russell, but the mare has good local experience and is also the controlling speed in the heat. The five-year-old daughter of Mitole was in the lead late in the dash last season, and I feel that she will be on top turning for home once again this year at a big price. She has fired two bullet drills in advance of the heat and will have Martinez up once again.