Date: Thursday, July 4, 2025
Track: Presque Isle Downs, Erie, PA
Race: Race 7 | Distance: 6 Furlongs (All-Weather Tapeta)
Purse: $100,000 | Age: 3-Year-Olds & Up
Race Overview
The Karl Boyes Stakes is a marquee sprint on the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs, drawing a deep and accomplished field of eight older horses. With multiple stakes winners, synthetic specialists, and a returning Breeders’ Cup champion, this 6-furlong dash promises a thrilling showdown of speed and class.
Full Field Analysis
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree | Notable |
| 1 | Nobals | Pablo Morales | Larry Rivelli | Noble Mission – Pearly Blue (Empire Maker) | 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner |
| 2 | Ponce De Leon | Sofia Vives | Kelsey Danner | Copper Bullet – St. John’s River | 2 wins, 3 seconds from 7 starts |
| 3 | Busk | Carlos Barbosa | Manuel Chavez | Candy Ride – Puskita | 7 wins from 11 starts, 5-race win streak |
| 4 | Horsepower | Samuel Marin | Joseph Orseno | Good Samaritan – Bear’s Lightning | Stakes-placed, versatile form |
| 5 | Goodie Goomer | Addiel Ayala | W. John Bourke | Verrazano – Math Class | 85% in-the-money rate |
| 6 | Going Up | Ronald Allen Jr. | Ron Potts | Mineshaft – Shush Up | 8 wins from 16 starts, sharp last-out win |
| 7 | My Buddy B | Yan Aviles | Krista Hetrick | Creative Cause – Casting Director | 8 wins, 108 rating, local specialist |
| 8 | Mattingly | Antonio Gallardo | Joseph Orseno | Bucchero – Battingstar | Wide draw, improving colt |
Pedigree & Performance Insights
Nobals (PP1)
Pedigree: By Noble Mission, out of a blue-blooded Empire Maker mare.
Form: $2M earner, G1 winner, 12-for-25 lifetime.
Edge: Class of the field; proven on synthetic and turf.
Busk (PP3)
Pedigree: Candy Ride progeny excel on synthetic.
Form: 7 wins, including 5 straight; razor-sharp form.
Note: Could be the now-horse with upside.
Going Up (PP6)
Pedigree: Mineshaft line brings stamina and grit.
Form: 50% win rate, strong local record.
Note: Tactical speed and sharp recent win.
Pace & Tactical Breakdown
Front Runners: Nobals, Going Up, Busk
Stalkers: Horsepower, Mattingly
Closers: Goodie Goomer, My Buddy B
Expect a blistering early pace, especially with Nobals and Busk drawn inside. This could set up for a mid-pack stalker like Horsepower or a late-running My Buddy B if the leaders duel.
