Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis, Tuesday, 6/06
by Dick Powell
Race One:
1st: (4) HALF BIRTHDAY – woke up two starts back here when dropped down in class and won from off the pace in fast time. She came back to finish up last season going gate to wire. Off for 236 days, she returns with her claiming tag waived.
2nd: (3) RIVERSIDE WALK – speedball won three of her last four starts here last season and also runs with her claiming tag waived. Horse for the course has won eight times here and has five seconds in only 15 starts. Pablo Morales rides back.
3rd: (1) CHARLOTTE THE BRIT – in her second start off the long layoff, she might work out a trip from the rail.
Race Two:
1st: (2) SAINT FOXY – raced evenly in her career debut here from post eight and now returns with blinkers added. Daughter of Smarty Jones fits well with these if she shows the usual improvement second-time starters do. Addiel Ayala rides back.
2nd: (11) ZORA – drops down to maiden claimers for the first time. She was a decent third against state-bred maidens last September but then did little when blinkers were added. Her return to the races was not much thus the drop down in class.
3rd: (8) BROKEN LOVE – still a maiden after 19 tries but her last two starts against this maiden claiming level were decent.
Race Three:
1st: (5) NOTACATBUTACARD – showed good speed going two turns two starts back here last October. Son of Discreet Cat returned here with a sharp win going six furlongs and can do it again with Antonio Gallardo back aboard.
2nd: (7) PAPA HONOR – beat bottom-level claimers by five lengths two starts back on the turf then came here and went gate to wire after being allowed to set a slow pace. Jay Bernardini wins 13% off long layoffs and 30% when he rides Noel Vigil.
3rd: (1) HE’S ON THE FLY – versatile 6-year-old gelding can run on or off the pace and switches to Pablo Morales.
Race Four:
1st: (8) CITY OF CLOUDS – showed high speed in his well-bet career debut on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs then came here and was run down late as the 2-5 favorite. Tim Hamm wins 27% first start after being beaten as the favorite.
2nd: (5) ITALIAN SYMPHONY – raced evenly to rally for second here in his career debut. Son of Mendelssohn should improve second time out and draws in the middle with Rosario Montanez.
3rd: (4) DOUBLE WARRIOR – raced evenly on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park then was a good second on the dirt at Tampa Bay.
Race Five:
1st: (4) SPIRITED SOL – ran well here last year as he earned $59K in only seven starts. He returned off a long layoff with a sharp win here in fast time and now stretches out to two turns. Erin Walker rides back – 2 for 5 riding for Kimberly DePasquale.
2nd: (2) I WANNA WIN – tired here last year in his lone PID starts against this optional claiming level. He has won his last six starts on the dirt since then in Ohio for James Jackson who wins 32% first start after a win and 31% against this class level.
3rd: (1) NICE ACE – horse for the course has eight wins and six seconds here against top company.
Race Six:
1st: (7) DONTLOOKBACKATALL – broke her maiden first time out in a turf sprint at Saratoga last year then raced evenly in two starts against stakes company. She showed good speed going two turns at Gulfstream Park when Lasix was added.
2nd: (5) RAINAS ROLLIN – returned off the long layoff here and was put up after being bumped in the stretch. She should improve second start off the layoff for Ron Rogers who sins 16% with his allowance starters.
3rd: (8) RUSTY MY BROTHER – did little in her career debut on the dirt but came here and won going away despite a poor start.
Race Seven:
1st: (4) HEIRLOOM KITTEN – has plenty of back class here with many strong efforts. This year, he was soundly beaten on the dirt at Keeneland but came back here and missed by a head going a two-turn mile in fast time. Pablo Morales rides back.
2nd: (7) KENTUCKY COOL – ran well in four starts on the Tapeta at Turfway Park going two turns. He was a good third against allowance foes there and now drops down some. Alice Beckman rides and can take advantage of a pace advantage.
3rd: (2) STRIKE THE TOP – one-dimensional closer rallied from far back to win by a head here last out off the long layoff.
Race Eight:
1st: (3) T C GREELEY – broke his maiden going gate to wire two starts back on a sloppy track at Penn National. He made his Tapeta debut here last out as the 3-2 favorite and held well to be second. Martina Rojas rides back.
2nd: (4) LARZ – broke his maiden by over eight lengths in his well-bet career debut then was out run badly in his next four starts – all on the dirt. He drops in class for his Tapeta debut for the red-hot Linda Rice who is the leading trainer at Belmont.
3rd: (1) VOORHEES – was beaten 34 lengths in his first three career starts but romped last out against cheap maiden claimers.
