Accomplished Girl leads all the way in Presque Isle Masters

Only 16 days after she raced on the turf at Kentucky Downs, Accomplished Girl led from gate to wire for all 6 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta course Mondayto win the Grade 2, $300,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters for fillies and mares.

Ridden quickly out of the gate by jockey Édgard Zayas,Accomplished Girl (5-1) rattled off early fractions of 23.30, 45.99 and 1:09.14,never leading by less than a half-length at any call. Repelling a late-closingcharge by Midnight Stroll (4-1), the 3-year-old Street Boss filly won bythree-quarters of a length at a time of 1:15.29.

There was just no catching #5 Accomplished Girl in the Presque Isle Masters Stakes as she takes them gate to wire at 5/1 odds!

Owner: Gentry Farms@PID_Casino@PA_HBPA

— TwinSpires Racing ?? (@TwinSpires) September 18, 2023

Midnight Stroll, a 4-year-old who won last year’s DelawareOaks, finished second. Marissa’s Lady (3-1), a 4-year-old who was a stakeswinner last out at Presque Isle, stalked the early lead and finished anotherhead back in third.

Odds-on favorite Loyalty (4-5), who won the Hendrie (G3) nearlytwo months ago at Woodbine, was poised to make a late, competitive run, but the4-year-old ridden by Kazushi Kimura never fired in the deep stretch and woundup fourth, 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Jill Jitterbug (20-1) came in fifth and Sweet Amy (69-1) lastamong the six finishers. Napa Candy (34-1) was pulled up just after leaving thegate and was vanned off, according to the Equibase chart. Adaline Julia, CancelThis, Hideki, Opening Buzz and Roses for Debra were scratched.

Owned by A.P. Gentry and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., AccomplishedGirl has won 2 of 3 races against older rivals, most recently placing second Sept.2 in a $62,500 allowance sprint at Kentucky Downs. Bought at auction for$275,000 nearly 1 1/2 years ago, she broke her maiden in March on her secondtry at Gulfstream Park. She is 2-for-2 on Tapeta, also winning a July 16 sprintagainst older fillies and mares at Gulfstream.

Accomplished Girl carried the low weight 116 pounds as oneof only two 3-year-olds in the race. Her two closest pursuers each carried 120pounds. Loyalty ran with the top weight of 125 pounds.