Casse Trio Take Form Into Presque Isle Downs Masters

The 1-2-3 finishers from last month's Seaway Stakes (G3) at Woodbine venture south to contend for the $300,000 prize in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2). For the three Mark Casse trainees, all of whom train over Woodbine's synthetic main track regularly, Presque Isle Downs' Tapeta surface should feel like home.

Favored among the trio at 7-2 odds is Lighthouse Racing's Stormcast . A 4-year-old Mitole   filly, Stormcast ran boldly in the Seaway, taking the lead halfway down the stretch to only be caught late by her stablemates in her first start in nearly nine months. Never off the board in six outings over the all-weather track, she led at every point of call around one turn in Woodbine's Bessarabian Stakes (G3) in November. 

Top Woodbine rider Rafael Hernandez makes the trip across the border to pilot Stormcast, who could prove difficult to catch in her second start off the layoff.

Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Elysian Field , the 2023 Sovereign Award champion 3-year-old filly, ran down Stormcast in the Seaway. The seven-furlong Seaway marked the first time in more than two years that the 2023 Woodbine Oaks winner had competed around one turn. She'll need to cut back a half-furlong further in Friday's 6 1/2-furlong race.

Seaway runner-up Ticker Tape Home  might be an overlay at the morning line 10-1 odds. The 5-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro   hasn't won in her last six starts, but has been knocking at the door with each effort. 

The Kevin Rice-trained Ms. Tart , an impressive winner of Woodbine's Royal North Stakes (G3T) in May with a 105 Equibase Speed Figure, captured Presque Isle's local Masters prep in the Satin and Lace Stakes. The Maximus Mischief   filly totes the co-high weight of 126 pounds with Elysian Field, giving seven pounds to Stormcast.

New York-based trainer Miguel Clement will saddle two in the Masters, including Gal in a Rush , a fast-closing third in the Satin and Lace. Even more dangerous than that contender is LSU Stables' Pandora's Gift . The speedy Irish-bred filly, a stakes winner in her native country, came within a neck of beating Roses for Debra  in last year's Masters. Sold for $850,000 at the 2024 Keeneland Championship Sale after finishing third in Keeneland's Franklin Stakes (G2T), the daughter of Churchill  returned this spring with a close second-place finish to Future Is Now  in the Giant's Causeway Stakes (G3T). She has been off the board in two 5 1/2-furlong graded stakes at Saratoga Race Course since, but may appreciate the stretch out back to 6 1/2 furlongs.

LNJ Foxwoods' Ellen Jay  makes her second start off the layoff after running a troubled third in the Aug. 15 Smart And Fancy Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga turf. The 4-year-old Constitution   filly out of 2019 champion female sprinter and 3-year-old filly Covfefe  is a stakes winner on the grass and will be making her first start on a synthetic track for trainer Brad Cox.