Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis
by Dick Powell
Wednesday 06/21/23
Race One:
1st: (6) KENJI’S EMPIRE – showed good speed second time out going two turns here then held on for second when dropped down in class as Lasix was added. Son of Classic Empire gets in light with Martina Rojas.
2nd: (4) FIGHT – still a maiden after eight tries but he drops some in class for his PID debut. Son of Keen Ice ran well on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park. He has good early speed and gets Shaun Bridgmohan for the ride.
3rd: (1) QUICK QUICK WHIT – added blinkers two starts back and ran well going two turns against better.
Race Two:
1st: (7) T C GREELEY – broke his maiden on the slop in March then came here and held well for second against this conditioned claiming level. He rushed up and tired after breaking a bit slow last out. Martina Rojas rides back.
2nd: (3) VOORHEES – did nothing in his first three career starts but woke up here when dropped down in class and won by over five lengths as the 13-10 favorite. He tired last out when contesting the pace from post one but gets Pablo Morales.
3rd: (6) I ONCE STOOD ALONE – is winless in over a year but he has plenty of back class.
Race Three:
1st: (1) DAWGMENTALITY – added blinkers while stretching out to two turns and missed going all the way. Son of Smarty Jones returns against the same state-bred allowance foes from the rail with Erin Walker.
2nd: (6) WHISKEYMAC – looked good two starts back here then removed blinkers and he broke his maiden against open company. He takes on state-bred allowance foes for Ed Rojas who wins 24% with his overall allowance runners.
3rd: (4) NIGHT TIME RULER – speedball returned here after a series of dirt races this winter and held well for third.
Race Four:
1st: (6) YANKEE DOLLAR – won four straight turf races at Turf Paradise this winter then placed in two stakes races. She came here and won her PID debut by over four lengths and meets the same group with Pablo Morales back aboard.
2nd: (4) DO YOU LOVE ME – horse for the course has four wins and two seconds in six starts here. She tired on the turf at Keeneland then came here and went gate to wire at six furlongs. John Bourke wins 28% first start after a win.
3rd: (5) BALI KUTA – tries Tapeta for the first time after winning four of her last five turf starts coming into this.
Race Five:
1st: (9) READY SHE IS – did nothing to begin her career against top maidens on the turf at Gulfstream Park. She showed some improvement there when blinkers were added then was third in an off-the-turf event on the Tapeta.
2nd: (3) EMPTY ENVELOPE – was beaten 87 lengths in her first four career starts on the dirt. She was a much improved third on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs then shipped here and was third against this class and distance.
3rd: (2) ALHAAN – chased the field from post 8 here then dropped down in class and missed by a nose.
Race Six:
1st: (4) CATCH ON EMOTIONAL – made his Tapeta debut a winning one at the age of six when he went gate to wire to win by over six lengths as the odds-on favorite two starts back. He held well for second in fast time last out.
2nd: (3) PAYNTED WARRIOR – broke his maiden here first time out last year which means that he had to faced stakes company. After two terrible dirt races, he returned here 5 months later & went gate to wire for Tim Girten who wins 27% second off the layoff.
3rd: (2) MILITARY DRILL – horse for the course won two in a row here before a third against this allowance level.
Race Seven:
1st: (8) KENTUCKY COOL – won two Tapeta races by wide margins at Turfway Park in the winter then held on for third. He shipped here and opened up a big lead before being run down in the final yards.
2nd: (5) DECLARED – horse for the course was stakes-placed here last year. Off the long layoff, son of Hard Spun returned with a good second then beat better in fast time. John Bourke wins 28% first start after a win.
3rd: (6) STARSHIP EMPIRE – returns to the races here off three straight wins to finish up last year.
Race Eight:
1st: (2) ZIP CODE ENVY – was a good second here in her seasonal debut then she came back and broke her maiden by two lengths. She has a big, late kick and can save ground until called upon by Rocco Bowen.
2nd: (9) REVEILLE SONG – broke her maiden in a turf sprint at Gulfstream Park then raced evenly there on the Tapeta. She did nothing back on the turf so she switches surfaces and drops down in class for Mike Trombetta.
3rd: (7) RAINAS ROLLIN – speedy filly just missed hanging on but the stewards but her up for her maiden score.
