Stormcast faces overflow field in Presque Isle Downs Masters

Talented Grade 3 winner Stormcast leads a competitive field of 12 fillies and mares plus one also-eligible entered in Friday night’s 17th running of the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2), the featured event of the Presque Isle Downs season.

Run at 6 1/2 furlongs, the Presque Isle Downs Masters will be the ninth race on a 10-race program. Post time for the Masters is 8:36 p.m. EDT.

Masters fair odds: Competitive race favors Casse-trained closer

Stormcast, the 7-2 morning line favorite, is one of three entrants in the race for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. The daughter of Mitole won the Bessarabian Stakes (G3) as a 2-year-old and returned from a nine-month layoff four weeks ago, finishing third in the Seaway Stakes (G3) at Woodbine behind stablemates Elysian Field and Ticker Tape Home. Jockey Rafael Hernandez will ride Stormcast from post 9.

Elysian Field and Ticker Tape Home also entered the Masters for Casse.

Elysian Fields has five wins from 16 outings and drew post 3 with Pietro Moran aboard at odds of 6-1. One stall inside, Ticker Tape Home, a four-time winner will be ridden by Patrick Husbands at 10-1.

Trainer Miguel Clement entered two contenders in Friday’s race, graded-stakes winner Gal in a Rush and Pandora’s Gift, runner-up in last year’s Masters. Joel Rosario rides Gal in a Rush (post 5, 8-1) and Manny Franco is named on Pandora’s Gift (post 6, 5-1).

Among the other top challengers is Ellen Jay. Trained by Brad Cox, Ellen Jay Ellen capped her 3-year-old season with a victory in the Glen Cove Stakes at Belmont at the Big A. She returned for her 4-year-old campaign at Saratoga in August, finishing third in the Smart and Fancy. Flavien Prat has the call from post 11 as the 4-1 second choice.

Local hope Candy Reward trained by Brandon Kulp, enters on a six-race win streak. The Pennsylvania-bred filly captured the Princess of Sylmar Stakes in July at Presque Isle Downs. Pablo Morales rides from post 7 at 9-2.

The race also includes stakes winner Tricky Temper; Satin and Lace Stakes winner Ms. Tart and Satin and Lace runner-up Mitole Magic.