Gal in a Rush looks the part in Presque Isle Downs Masters
With a bold move along the rail, Gal in a Rush snapped a seven-race, 14-month losing streak in a 10-1 upset Friday night in the Grade 2, $301,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters, a 6 1/2-furlong dash for fillies and mares.
The 6-year-old Ghostzapper mare succeeded in a race where she finished third last year. She is from the stable of Miguel Clément, who inherited the training duties in May from his late father Christophe Clément.
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After a slow start, Joel Rosario had Gal in a Rush traveling ninth of 12 up the backstretch. After tipping out to find room coming out of the turn, Rosario tucked Gal in a Rush in at the three-sixteenths pole to make a run at fading pacesetter Mitole Magic (65-1).
Deep-closing, post-time favorite Ellen Jay (5-2) and long-shot stalker Tricky Temper (34-1) rallied in the homestretch, but Gal in a Rush had more momentum. She took the lead with 120 yards to go and drew away to a one-length win to pay $22.60, $9.40 and $5.80.
Ellen Jay made up 7 1/2 lengths to finish second and return $5.60 and $4.80. Tricky Temper was another nose back in third and paid $13.00. Candy Reward (5-1), Ticker Tape Home (20-1), Mitole Magic, Elysian Field (9-2), Stormcast (5-1), Ms. Tart (16-1), Freedom Speaks (67-1), 2024 runner-up Pandora’s Gift (3-1) and Naughty Favors (131-1) completed the finish in that order. Milliat was scratched.
Gal in a Rush’s winning time on the black, synthetic track was 1:14.45 after Mitole Magic’s early fractions of 22.18, 44.26 and 1:08.35.
Coming into the race with a 4: 0-1-1 record this year, Gal in a Rush most recently finished third to Ms. Tart and Mitole Magic on Aug. 18 in the six-furlong Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. Her last win had been last summer in the Hendrie (G3) at Woodbine.
With Friday’s $180,000 first-place money, Gal in a Rush upped her career earnings to $661,257 for West Point Thoroughbreds, Chris Larsen and Titletown Racing Stables.