Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis
by Dick Powell
Monday 06/19/23
Race One:
1st: (8) CEREAL I D – was soundly beaten in her last two starts on the dirt at Penn National but came here and almost went gate to wire when dropped down to this maiden claiming level. Gets in light again with apprentice allowance rider Alice Beckman.
2nd: (5) ZORA – added blinkers three starts back with little immediate results but improved some from post 11 going six furlongs last out. Daughter of Broken Vow loses the blinkers but keeps Antonio Gallardo.
3rd: (3) ANIPPE – stretches out to two turns off an even effort going five furlongs and adds blinkers.
Race Two:
1st: (8) UP FOR THE CHANCE – returned off the long layoff and missed going gate to wire by a neck then moved up in class and weakened late. He drops back down in class for John Fennessy who wins 22% with this move.
2nd: (3) CONRADO – improved on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs then raced evenly in Arizona. He chased the pace here last out after acting up at the gate and if his manners are improved, he’ll be a factor on the dropdown.
3rd: (4) GOLDEN OAK – is only 1 for 26 here lifetime but he as a good second at class and distance last out.
Race Three:
1st: (4) FORGOTTEN PEACE – horse for the course won at Turfway Park to finish up last season then returned here five months later with a sharp win against this optional claiming level. Tim Girten wins 28% second start off the layoff.
2nd: (2) I RECALL – winless in seven tries here but returned off the layoff last out and took the lead in the deep stretch before weakening late. John Bourke wins 20% second start off the layoff and his last 40 in this spot showed a strong flat-bet profit.
3rd: (1) DANA’S BEAUTY – seems better suited for two turns but he did well at class and distance last out.
Race Four:
1st: (6) ABBEY’S SNOW WHITE – horse for the course has 8 wins here and 25 other placings in 56 starts over the years. 10-year-old has had two even starts here off the long layoff and should be ready with Ron Allen, Jr. riding – 17% with his sprint rides.
2nd: (2) LADY MARVEL – speedball is winless in 16 tries here over the years but might hold on longer in her third start off the layoff. Carol Skawinski had a longshot winner last week and her last 118 Synthetic-track starters show a flat-bet profit.
3rd: (3) AMAZON LIZZIE – horse for the course raced evenly here in her first start off the long layoff.
Race Five:
1st: (8) MAGIC LIFE – was a good second here in her well-bet career debut 53 weeks ago but went to the sidelines. She came back here with another good second and should improve in her second start of the season. Jose Ortiz is in to ride for Kevin Rice.
2nd: (5) RITAAN – daughter of More than Ready makes her third career start. She rallied some going two turns on the turf last out and ships here for Andrew McKeever who wins 19% with this surface switch. Pablo Morales picks up the mount.
3rd: (1) DARK DAHLIA – showed high speed in her career debut going seven furlongs on the Tapeta at Woodbine.
Race Six:
1st: (3) CITY TRIPPER – broke his maiden here last year but then ran poorly. He began this year with another poor effort but woke up last out against this conditioned claiming level. Rory Barron wins 14% with his overall claimers.
2nd: (1) FLOAT AWAY – raced inconsistently here last year in 6 starts. She came back this year against modest maiden claimers and won by 4 lengths as the 7-5 favorite. She comes back against the right level for John Bourke who wins 20% second off the rest.
3rd: (6) LARZ – looked great when he broke his maiden first time out by over eight lengths on the dirt at Aqueduct but little since.
Race Seven:
1st: (7) FOLK HERO – moves way up in class after racing on the dirt for most of her career. She showed good speed two starts back here in her Tapeta debut then won by over seven lengths when blinkers were added.
2nd: (1) LOVELY EVER AFTER – finished up last year with a dull effort against stakes foes going two turns in very fast time. She returned here last out with a good second as the odds-on favorite and draws the rail today for Tim Girten.
3rd: (2) MERINO WOOL – missed by a head two starts back in her seasonal debut then was third against this allowance level.
Race Eight:
1st: (1) LEGIO – chased the pace here two starts back in his seasonal PID debut but improved a ton last out when he rallied for second going six furlongs. Carol Skawinski wins 14% with her overall synthetic-track starters.
2nd: (10) SILVER TOKEN – one-dimensional closer had two poor starts on the dirt at Finger Lakes to get the season going then shipped here and was an even third behind the top choice for Dave Markgraf.
3rd: (9) SILVER TOKEN – won here going two turns two starts back as the 8-5 favorite then tired badly last out.
