BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: Sept. 1, Presque Isle

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Tuesday, Sept. 1

Presque Isle Downs, Race 4: Maiden special weight (6 furlongs on Tapeta, 6:00 p.m. ET)

#7 Spicy Hot (12-1 on the morning line) can fire a big shot on debut in this maiden dash.

Since 2019, trainer Lance Stokes has gone 2-for-6 (33%) with first-time starters at Presque Isle Downs. Stokes has also been on fire at the current meet, where he is striking at a 55% rate, with six wins and a runner-up finish from his first 11 starters.

Spicy Hot is a daughter of Belmont Derby (G1) winner Mr Speaker, who handled a synthetic racing surface just fine when he dominated Keeneland’s Lexington (G3) on Polytrack. Spicy Hot has been training strongly over the Presque Isle Tapeta, where he cranked out a quartet of quick 5-furlong workouts since the beginning of August, so fitness shouldn’t be an issue.

At 12-1, Spicy Hot is worth a win bet. We’ll also key her in the exacta, with #2 Royal Collection (3-1) and #6 Pepper (9-2), the mounts of high-percentage jockeys Pablo Morales and Scott Spieth.

$12 to win on #7 Spicy Hot
$3 exacta: 7 with 2,6 ($6)
$6 exacta: 2,6 with 7 ($12)
Total: $30

Good luck!