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Presque Isle Downs TV

Post-time favorite Roses for Debra found a gap in traffic along
the rail and got up in the last four strides to set a track record Friday night
and win the Grade 2, $300,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters for fillies and mares,
3 and up.

The winning time of 1:13.92 for the 6 1/2 furlongs on the
Tapeta course broke the old record of 1:14.57 set by Artie’s Princess in the
2022 running of the Masters.

Click here for Presque Isle Downs entries and results.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Christophe Clément, Roses
for Debra (3-2) took a rail-saving trip up the backstretch in fifth place,
racing less than two lengths behind pacesetter She’s Fire (46-1) through early
fractions of 22.51 and 44.98 seconds.

As the field of nine turned for home, Pandora’s Gift (10-1) briefly
took command racing four wide. Ben Curtis had the Ireland-bred, 3-year-old
Churchill filly within striking distance of winning her U.S. debut. Meanwhile, Ortiz
looked for room with Roses for Debra running along the rail.

That gap finally materialized, and Roses for Debra surged to
the lead through three-quarters of a mile in 1:08.03. She ran on to win by a neck
over Pandora’s Gift, who carried six fewer pounds. Gal in a Rush (4-1) stalked
and faded to finish 1 1/2 lengths farther up the track in third. Nice as Pie (9-5)
rallied from sixth to finish another half-length behind in fourth.

Sunday Shoes (8-1), Baby No Worries (62-1), She’s Fire, Jill
Jitterbug (92-1) and Heaven Rules (38-1) finished fifth through ninth in that
order.

Roses for Debra paid $5.00, $3.40 and $2.20; Pandora’s Gift
$9.60 and $4.80; and Gal in a Rush $3.40.

Owned by John O’Meara and Cheyenne Stable, Roses for Debra is a 5-year-old gray mare by Liam’s Map who ran
her record to 15: 9-2-2 and, with the $180,000 first-place money Friday, raised
her career earnings to $817,868. This was her fourth stakes victory. Her
previous biggest win came April 13 in the Giant’s Causeway (G3) at Keeneland.
Last year Roses for Debra finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.