The Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older, over a distance of furlongs on the all weather track held annually in September at Presque Isle Downs & Casino racetrack in Summit Township, Pennsylvania. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.
History The race was inaugurated in 2007 with an attractive purse offered of $400,000 over the distance of six furlongs. The distance of the event was increased to furlongs in 2009. That same year, 2009, the event was upgraded to a Grade III and two years later in 2011 to a Grade II.
The event has become the highlight of the meet and attracts fine fillies and mares from Canada and USA including dual winner of the event Informed Decision who later won the 2009 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and Groupie Doll won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in 2012 and 2013.
The event was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Records
Speed record: furlongs: 1:13.92 - Roses For Debra (2024) (new track record) 6 furlongs: 1:07:95 - Wild Gams (2008)
Margins: lengths – Hotshot Anna (2018)
Most wins by a jockey 2 – Julien R. Leparoux (2009, 2010) 2 – Rajiv Maragh (2012, 2013) 2 – Antonio A. Gallardo (2018, 2019) 2 – Edgard J. Zayas (2023, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer 3 – Saffie Joseph Jr. (2022, 2023, 2026)
Most wins by an owner 2 – Augustin Stable (2009, 2010) 2 – Fred Bradley, William Bradley, Carl Hurst & Brent Burns (2012, 2013) 2 – HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing (2014, 2015) 2 – Hugh H. Robertson (2018, 2019)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefPresque Isle Downs Masters Stakes2026Reagan's Flame5Edgard J. ZayasSaffie A. Joseph Jr.St. Elias Stable, BAG Racing Stables, Turf Express Racing and Watkins Diamond Stables furlongs1:14.62$300,000II2025Gal in a Rush 6Joel Rosario Miguel Clement West Point Thoroughbreds, Chris Larsen & Titletown Racing Stables furlongs 1:14.45$301,000II2024Roses for Debra 5Irad Ortiz Jr. Christophe Clement Cheyenne Stable & John O'Meara furlongs 1:13.92 $300,250II2023 Accomplished Girl 3Edgard Zayas Saffie Joseph Jr. Gentry Farms furlongs 1:15.29$298,500II2022 Artie's Princess* 5Jose L. Ortiz Saffie Joseph Jr. Kenneth Ramsey & Estate of Sarah Ramsey furlongs 1:14.57$400,600II2021Race not held2020Race not held2019 Hotshot Anna 5 Antonio A. Gallardo Hugh H. Robertson Hugh H. Robertson furlongs 1:15.32$400,000II2018 Hotshot Anna 4 Hugh H. Robertson Hugh H. Robertson furlongs 1:14.73$400,600II2017 Ami's Mesa 4 Luis Contreras Josie Carroll Ivan Dalos furlongs 1:14.68$400,800II2016 Sarah Sis 4 Florent Geroux Ingrid Mason Joe Ragsdale furlongs 1:16.42$400,200II2015 5 Joe Bravo Gary Mandella HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing furlongs 1:15.17$400,000II2014 Living The Life (IRE) 4 Mike E. Smith Gary Mandella HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing furlongs 1:15.26$400,400II2013 Groupie Doll 5 Rajiv Maragh William B. Bradley Fred Bradley, William Bradley, Carl Hurst & Brent Burns furlongs 1:14.88$400,200II2012 Groupie Doll 4 Rajiv Maragh William B. Bradley Fred Bradley, William Bradley, Carl Hurst & Brent Burns furlongs 1:16.32$400,600II2011 Musical Romance 4 Juan Leyva William A. Kaplan William A. Kaplan & Pinnacle Racing Stable (Adam Lazarus, managing partner) furlongs 1:16.40$400,800II2010 Informed Decision 5 Julien R. Leparoux Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable furlongs 1:15.62$400,400III2009 Informed Decision 4 Julien R. Leparoux Augustin Stable furlongs 1:15.10$398,000III2008 Wild Gams 5 Miguel Mena Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. New Farm (Everett & Nancy Novak) 6 furlongs 1:07.95$400,000Listed 2007 Miss Macy Sue 4 Eusebio Razo Jr. Kelly R. Von Hemel Roll Reroll Stables 6 furlongs 1:08.21$400,000 Listed
Legend:
Notes:
*Artie's Princess finished first in the 2022 running of the race, but in March 2023 the horse was disqualified due to a medication violation. In July 2023, the disqualification was reversed by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission.
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References