Presque Isle Downs & Casino is the New Gateway to Greatness?

Erie, PA, December 03, 2011 --(PR.com)-- At the prestigious Churchill Downs, Wise Dan galloped to his first Grade I victory Nov. 25. The gelding, who was the winner of the Presque Isle Mile in September 2011, overcame Mission Impazible in the final furlong to capture the $500,000 Clark Handicap by 3 3/4 lengths.

The event attracted nationally ranked competition such as Ruler on Ice, winner of the Belmont Stakes and Prayer for Relief, winner of the WV Derby at Mountaineer Park, the Louisiana Downs Super Derby and the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. Wise Dan most recently won the GR II Fayette Stakes at Keeneland on October 29th.

“Presque Isle Downs racetrack is quickly rising into a top venue in the sport of horseracing,” said Debbie Howells, Director of Racing at Presque Isle Downs and Casino. “Our Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes went from a Grade III to a Grade II race in a very short period of time. We would love to see other races at Presque Isle Downs get a Graded Status and the Presque Isle Mile is one of the races that we hope will be considered in the near future.”

Graded Races run from Grade III to Grade I with the Grade I races being The Kentucky Derby, The Belmont, The Preakness along with races like the Hollywood Starlet from Hollywood Park and Malibu Stakes from Santa Anita which are slated to run in December.

“We will continue to attract more of the nation’s best talent to our track,” said Presque Isle Downs and Casino President Fred Buro. “And we will strive to make next year’s horse racing season even better than before.”

The 2011 Presque Isle Mile had a $250,000 purse and the Grade II Masters, which was the premier event of the racing season at Presque Isle Downs and Casino, had a $400,000 purse and featured Fillies and Mares 3 years-old and up in a 6½ furlong race.

Presque Isle Downs and Casino will feature live racing from May through September in 2012.

Wise Dan’s victory, his eighth in 14 lifetime races, boosted his earnings to $919,601. The Clark victory was worth $326,554. The chestnut horse, sixth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint last year, has won three of six starts at Churchill.

For more information please contact Debbie Howells at 814.860.8950.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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