Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024

Dick Powell handicaps the Wednesday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (5) SHANTY SHACK – showed good speed going two turns against much better to begin his PID career. He dropped down in class and distance with a pair of thirds for Ron Potts, who wins 32% first start after being beaten as the favorite. 

2nd: (6) UBIQUITOUS – moves up a bit in class after running in the money in his last three starts here. He was second in fast time two starts back, then made a strong move to just miss last out.

3rd: (4) ELECTROSTATIC – versatile gelding has been coming from off the pace lately and doing well for Scooter Davis. 

Race 2

1st: (7) R CHELLO – ran well as the beaten favorite two starts back as the 13-10 favorite. He dropped down to maiden claimers for the first time and drops again for Ed Rojas, who wins 41% with this move and 24% with his synthetic-track starters. 

2nd: (1) PARTY AT THE BEACH – turns back to a sprint after three route tries against better maidens and now drops down in class and distance. John Fennessy wins 13% turning back in distance and with his overall maiden claimers.  

3rd: (3) CHIEF CRAZY MOON – drops a notch in class for his second start off the long layoff. 

Race 3

1st: (2) VERBAL GEYSER – after doing nothing in her career debut on the turf, she shipped here and has won three of five starts. As a three-year-old, she can keep running against this same class level and will be tough from this post position. 

2nd: (5) MARY KATHERINE – broke her maiden in her Tapeta debut here at the end of last season. This year, she has mostly raced on turf but shipped here last out and won going away for Keri Brion. 

3rd: (1) MY JANNET – ran well three straight times here going short against this class level. 

Race 4

1st: (6) AQUACAT – dropped down to bottom claimers two starts back and just missed going gate to wire, then rated just off the pace to miss by a head as the 7-5 favorite. Ed Rojas wins 26% with his claimers and 31% with Antonio Gallardo. 

2nd: (9) RECONVENE – one-dimensional closer got up in time going this distance on the turf at Colonial Downs, then came back with a good second. He raced evenly last out and now makes his Tapeta debut. 

3rd: (4) K P ALL SYSTEMS GO – rallied from far back to win on the turf two starts back and tries Tapeta for the first time. 

Race 5

1st: (3) THE CONNECTOR – horse for the course was sharp winner two starts back in good time, then came back and did it again last out. He meets similar and gets in light again with Brooke Bays.

2nd: (5) STRAIGHTOUTADUTTON – speedy nine-year-old held on but then moved way up in class the next two starts. He was an even third last out when dropped down to this level for Randy Russell, who wins 14% with his synthetic-track starters. 

3rd: (6) CITY TRIPPER – beat similar two starts back and then romped against starter allowance foes. 

Race 6

1st: (1) TWILIGHT DANCER – horse for the course has won four of six starts here this season, including a stakes race. He faces strong open company allowance foes here from post 1. Pablo Morales wins 27% with Tim Girten and shows a flat-bet profit. 

2nd: (5) GROUNDED – went gate to wire in two straight starts as the odds-on favorite. He just missed last out off a two-month layoff for Scooter Davis, who wins 46% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

3rd: (8) CRABS N BEER – turf horse ships in for his Tapeta debut with blinkers put back on. 

Race 7

1st: (6) HEART – broke her maiden in her well-bet career debut on the dirt, then missed by a length in her turf debut. She came back to race evenly again and now makes her Tapeta debut for Brittany Russell, who wins 33% with this surface switch.  

2nd: (7) GOOD TO BE TRUGE – has been up and down the class ladder looking for a winning spot and shows high speed no matter who the competition is. He held well against good ones last out and should be the one to catch again.  

3rd: (1) GREEN CHILE – moves up in class off a good win two starts back. 

Race 8

1st: (6) HERONEANDONLY – drops down in class off two solid efforts going two turns. He drops down in class and distance for Gabe Goodwin. Dereck Lopez rides back. 

2nd: (7) BILLY’S BET – has plenty of back class on the turf in California, then did nothing on the dirt out there. He makes his Tapeta debut for Tim Girten, who wins 18% with this class dropdown and gets Gallardo. 

3rd: (3) IMPOSTER SYNDROME – took him 17 tries to break his maiden, then raced evenly against this class level.