Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis
by Dick Powell
Wednesday 07/26/23
Race One:
1st: (1) CHEROKEE CHATTER – beat open allowance foes two starts back in fast time. She ran poorly last out after a dull start and now faces open $25K claimers for Cathy Rosantz who wins 15% with her synthetic-track starters.
2nd: (3) GOLDEN SUN DROPS – was a good winner at Turf Paradise on dirt in good time. She shipped here and won her Tapeta debut for Marcus Vitali whose barn seems to be warming up. Rosario Montanez rides back.
3rd: (4) LENTEN ROSE – held on for third here in her Tapeta debut going two turns then tired late when moved up in class.
Race Two:
1st: (1) VALDOLOBO – very inconsistent 8-year-old gelding that has plenty of back class. She only had one start last year and only one this year but has won here before in fast time. Bill Martin wins 15% first start off long layoffs.
2nd: (4) BATTLE CREEK – raced evenly in his first three starts on the Tapeta then came back and won by a head in a game effort. He drops down a notch in class for Ron Potts who wins 12% first start after a win.
3rd: (6) MARV’S MAGIC – missed by a head in his Tapeta debut here then raced evenly last out in a wide trip.
Race Three:
1st: (6) SHEZ UNTAPPABLE – first-time starter from Randy Russell who only wins 5% with his debut runners but 14% against this maiden level. Daughter of Race Day (12% debut winners) has been training lights out here for this.
2nd: (8) PEACE IN PARADISE – showed high speed here in her well-bet career debut but then went up to Woodbine to run for more money and tired after a half-mile. She ships back here and takes on state-bred company with Declan Carroll aboard.
3rd: (5) R PENELOPE – first-time starter from Ed Rojas that is working well here out of the gate.
Race Four:
1st: (3) JULIETTE FALLS – broke her maiden here second time out going gate to wire in her two-turn debut. Off for eight months, she raced evenly in good time then tired last out after battling for the lead.
2nd: (4) SHE’S A BOSSY GIRL – rallied for third in her Tapeta debut here in her first start off the claim by Marcus Vitali. She just missed last out after opening up a clear lead in the deep stretch and meets the same class level here.
3rd: (5) READY SHE IS – broke her maiden two starts back here in her Tapeta debut then raced evenly against better.
Race Five:
1st: (6) T C GREELEY – shipped here after breaking his maiden on dirt and after a couple of tries, he won easily as the 13-10 favorite. He came back and won easily at even money for Ed Rojas who wins 30% first start after a win.
2nd: (1) JUST WATCH ME NOW – shipped here from Golden Gate and promptly beat similar. He came back and won again then weakened in her last two starts. Mike Pappada wins 18% with his sprint starters and when he uses Erin Walker.
3rd: (4) ANTE UP ALEX – rallied wide to get up for second in his PID debut and comes back against the same level.
Race Six:
1st: (6) WAPITI WAY – horse for the course just missed against this claiming level then did nothing when moved up in class off the claim. He dropped back down last out and won by a head and gets Pablo Morales back aboard.
2nd: (8) GREAT BLAKE – beat this class level two starts back going 5 ½ furlongs then was an even fourth last out. Mark Hoffman wins 21% with his overall claimers and 19% with his sprint starters. Ron Allen, Jr. picks up the mount.
3rd: (1) HENRY’S WORLD – won his PID debut three starts back then showed good speed before tiring in his last two.
Race Seven:
1st: (4) JO JO HANS – dropped way down in class and won. Going away at this distance two starts back. Claimed by Ed Rojas, he was an even third against open allowance foes going two turns. Rojas wins 27% second start off the claim.
2nd: (5) REGAL SPEAKER – dropped down to the bottom and won easily at even money two starts back. He was a good third against better last out and now tries a long sprint with Pablo Morales back aboard.
3rd: (3) CHIS N WILBUR – horse for the course has seven wins and 15 placings in only 29 starts here.
Race Eight:
1st: (7) ALA L – was racing inconsistently on the dirt at Finger Lakes then shipped here and held on well for fourth at long odds in her Tapeta debut here. Mark Tasso is winless this year but is able to secure Scott Spieth to ride.
2nd: (1) SGT RECKLESS USMC – was beaten 65 lengths in her first two career starts then woke up an went gate to wire on the dirt at Penn National. After a poor start here going two turns, she bounce back with a good third back in a sprint.
3rd: (2) CAN I GET AN AMEN – ran well in three starts on the Tapeta here against better and gets some class relief here.