Ivan Dalos’ homebred Ami’s Mesa eclipsed the track record previously held by two-time champion Groupie Doll by one-fifth of a second when taking Tuesday’s $402,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (G2) Tuesday night.
The 13-10 favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong dash for fillies and mares, Ami’s Mesa was always within striking distance as Cavalia set fractions of :22.52 and :45.18. Steadily improving position on the turn and in upper stretch despite racing four and five wide, Ami’s Mesa had plenty of stamina, wearing down Bar of Gold to win by a length.
Trained by Josie Carroll and ridden by Luis Contreras, Ami’s Mesa paid $4.60 and covered the distance on Tapeta in 1:14.68, besting the old mark of 1:14.88. Second choice Bar of Gold, who briefly took the lead in deep stretch, had 1 3/4 lengths on 41-1 longshot Cavalia.
Ami’s Mesa preceded this victory with scores in the 1 1/16-mile Ontario Matron (G3) and the seven-furlong Seaway (G3), both at Woodbine. Also winner of the C$144,000 Glorious Song at the Toronto course in 2015, Ami’s Mesa’s lone stakes defeats have come on turf. Now six-for-seven on synthetic surfaces, her overall record now stands at 9-6-1-0, $531,803.
Bred in Ontario by Dalos’ Tall Oaks Farm, Ami’s Mesa is out of the stakes-winning Victorious Ami, a daughter of Victory Gallop who’s also reared Grade 3 scorer Ami’s Holiday and the stakes-placed Victory Exchange. Also in this extended family are Canadian champion Amis Gizmo and Grade 3 victor Ami’s Flatter.
