Decisive Moment Back in Presque Isle Mile

While he has struggled since last year's front-running victory in the Presque Isle Mile, the connections of Decisive Moment hope a return to the Pennsylvania track helps the veteran runner in this year's edition of the $200,000 race Sunday, Sept. 6 at Presque Isle Downs.

Just For Fun Stable's Decisive Moment led every step in winning last year's Presque Isle Mile by a head over Allie's Event, who also is entered this year. Since that effort, Decisive Moment has lost eight straight races but Sunday's test for 3-year-olds and older marks the first start at Presque Isle and first start on a synthetic surface since that race for the 7-year-old son of With Distinction.

The full field of 12, along with two also-eligibles, is dotted with several graded stakes winners, including Ronald Kirk, John Bates, and Michael Riordan's multiple graded stakes winner Are You Kidding Me, who could be favored off a close third in the Sky Classic Stakes (Can-II) Aug. 16 on the Woodbine turf. Earlier this year the 5-year-old Run Away and Hide   horse won the Eclipse Stakes (Can-II) on the Woodbine Polytrack.

Also shipping in from Woodbine is Live Oak Plantation's Florida Won, who enters off a victory in the Seagram Cup Stakes (Can-III). Also entering off a synthetic track stakes win is Midnight Cello, who won the Hanshin Cup Stakes (gr. III) July 18 at Arlington Park.

Paul Van Doren's consistent Rise Up, a grade III winner, enters off a second in the Don Bernhardt Stakes July 18 at Ellis Park. Rise Up has finished in the top three in seven of his past eight starts. The son of Rockport Harbor will be making his first start at Presque Isle since securing his maiden win there in 2013.