Trainer Ron Potts finished one-two in Sunday night’s $100,000 Mark McDermott Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-olds when the filly Diamond Dollar ran down pacesetter Sixers City in deep stretch.
It was the second straight year Potts and owner The Elkstone Group have won the six-furlong McDermott at Presque Isle Downs.
“One went and the other one sat,” said Potts. “She did the right thing and was lucky to catch him.”
Diamond Dollar ($7), a daughter of Not For Love, was third, 2 1/2 lengths off the lead, after a half-mile in 46.31 seconds. She moved up to second under jockey Huber Villa-Gomez, but was still two lengths behind her uncoupled stablemate with a furlong remaining. Diamond Dollar, who defeated open company maiden fillies in her third career start on Aug. 11, went past Sixers City inside the sixteenth pole and won by 1 1/4 lengths. The winning time for six furlongs was 1:11.90.
Sixers City, an easy winner of his second career start on Aug. 22, held second, a half-length in front of Delaware shipper Howboutthemcowboys.
Potts indicated that Diamond Dollar will come back in two weeks for the $100,000 Mrs. Henry Paxson Memorial Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies.
Source: Paulick Report, Joe DeVivo