Hotshot Anna looms as strong favorite to repeat in Presque Isle Downs Masters

From its inception in 2007, the Presque Isle Downs Masters (G2) has often been a highly significant prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Informed Decision, Musical Romance, and Groupie Doll, to cite several examples, have won both races.

Two years ago the Masters produced the top two Breeders' Cup finishers in Bar of Gold and Ami's Mesa, not bad for a race still contested on Tapeta that serves as a lead-in to a major dirt race.

Monday's $400,000 renewal of the Masters will feature a title defense attempt by Hotshot Anna, whose season concluded with a 4 1/4-length romp in the 6 1/2-furlong dash. Whether she has Breeders' Cup aspirations remains to be seen, but she'll be strongly favored to remain unbeaten over the Presque Isle surface following comfortable, odds-on victories in her last two.

Some of the primary rivals out of the 10 that will line up against her appear to be Late Night Pow Wow, Mominou, and Talk Veuve to Me. Late Night Pow Wow is 12-for-14 lifetime, including three stakes win this term at Laurel. The most significant was the February 16 Barbara Fritchie (G3) which she won by a head over Spiced Perfection, who returned to handily defeat Late Night Pow Wow in the Madison (G1) at Keeneland next out.

Mominou, in contrast, has done her best work on turf, most recently winning the $200,000 Caress at Saratoga in wire-to-wire fashion as a 29-1 longshot. Grade 3 winner Talk Veuve to Me recently rolled in a second-level allowance at Saratoga when adding blinkers for the first time.

Among those with notable synthetic credentials are Spring in the Wind, second best to Hotshot Anna in the $100,000 Satin N Lace last time, and the speedy Jean Elizabeth, a multiple stakes winner in the Illinois-bred ranks who's won five of nine on either Polytrack or Tapeta.