Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Dick Powell handicaps Tuesday's eight-race card at Presque Isle Downs.

RACE ONE

1st: (6) VELOCE – ran evenly in two straight starts here against better competition, then dropped down to this level and missed by a neck as the 3-2 favorite. He has to overcome the wide draw but gets Antonio Gallardo back aboard. 

2nd: (3) ADIOS BOBBY – horse for the course has won eight times here, but not this year in his last three starts. He showed good speed last out before tiring late for Mike Pappada, who wins 19% of the time going long and is 3-for-10 with Erin Walker. 

3rd: (4) FUEL THE BERN – horse for the course stretches out to two turns off a pair of sprints this season. 

RACE TWO

1st: (6) GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME – ran well on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs, then shipped here and weakened in her Tapeta debut against this class level. She came back with an even effort for Mike Pappada, who wins 19% with his claimers.  

2nd: (2) SHE’S GOT RHYTHM – didn’t do much in a pair of sprints here this year, but then she came back and broke her maiden going two turns for the first time. Randy Russell wins 17% of his first starts after a maiden win and filly gets in light with Brooke Bays. 

3rd: (1) INDIAN SPIDEROO – improved a lot last out against this class level, going two turns in decent time.  

RACE THREE

1st: (2) SKYLER’S ARTEMIS – ran well on the dirt at Finger Lakes, then made his Tapeta debut last time out and missed by a neck after contesting the pace every step. Anthony Ferraro wins 20% of the time with his sprinters and gets Pablo Morales. 

2nd: (5) XANDER – did nothing in his first three career starts in California, but then returned 14 months later with an even third on the dirt. He makes his Tapeta debut for Chris Davis, who wins 18% in his second starts off a layoff. 

3rd: (6) S S FUN AND GAMES – first-time starter from Randy Russell, who wins 10% of his debuts. 

RACE FOUR

1st: (3) SENSIBLE MARRIAGE – missed by a head two starts ago here, going two turns against this maiden claiming level, and then ran evenly when moved up in class. This daughter of Street Sense drops back down in class.

2nd: (4) REGAL MISS – showed good speed two starts back here in her PID debut and then ran well again last time out. This daughter of Mendelssohn meets the same group for Maria Bowersock, who wins 27% of her first starts after being beaten as the favorite. 

3rd: (5) SUSANOO – drops down in class for Ed Rojas, who wins 24% of his first starts out of his barn. 

RACE FIVE

1st: (4) CANDI GIRL – broke her maiden in a turf sprint at Ellis Park 11 months ago, but then did nothing in a stakes race at Kentucky Downs. She came back and won on Tapeta at Turfway Park going this distance, then raced evenly there against stakes foes. 

2nd: (5) YELLOW FEATHERS – tired here in her career debut but then broke her maiden by over nine lengths on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs. She returned here six months later with a good third after battling for the lead from post 1. 

3rd: (1) DI’S SURPRISE – turf sprinter from Hawthorne tries Tapeta for Larry Rivelli, who wins 33% of his first starts after a win. 

RACE SIX

1st: (6) GRAEL – has yet to win on Tapeta after eight tries, but he just missed against this level going a mile here off a long layoff. He tired in both starts since then going long and now drops down in class and distance with Pablo Morales back aboard.  

2nd: (7) ROCK WITH YOU – just missed going gate to wire two starts back, then romped in his first start off the claim by Ed Rojas. He returns off the claim by Cally Herrington and goes with Erik Barbaran, who wins 23% of the time with his sprint rides. 

3rd: (5) HAMMER LANE – drops down in class in his second start of the season for Scooter Davis, who has won 42% of the time with Rosario Montanez over the last 60 days. 

RACE SEVEN

1st: (3) HECTOR – in his last two starts here against this allowance level, he finished second by a neck and a head. His last race was his best one, so all he has to do is repeat that effort. Ron Potts wins 20% with his synthetic track starters.

2nd: (4) NOBLE JON – makes his PID debut off a trio of strong turf sprints at Penn National, going five furlongs in fast time. Erin McClellan wins 21% of the time with her allowance runners, and Tyler Conner picks up the ride.   

3rd: (10) TONY SMALL – horse for the course already has three wins this year for Mark Hoffman. 

RACE EIGHT

1st: (4) CATATUMBO – just missed against better competition two starts back here, but then raced evenly. He drops down to his lowest level yet and draws better for Rory Barron, who wins 17% with his claimers. Rosario Montanez rides. 

2nd: (8) SMASH – speedball hasn’t been holding on lately but is always dangerous against this claiming level. This son of Congrats tries Tapeta for the first time, and Erik Barbaran rides for Jay Bernardini, who wins 18% of the time when together over the last 60 days. 

3rd: (5) MR TITO’S – moves up a notch in class for Lisa Allen, who wins 14% after a win.