BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: Sept. 30, Presque Isle Downs

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Wednesday, Sept. 30

Presque Isle Downs, Race 6: Allowance/optional claiming (1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, 6:50 p.m. ET)

#1 Epic (3-1 on the morning line) is the favorite, after he rallied to finish second in a 1 1/8-mile allowance  Sept. 16 at Presque Isle.

Claimed for $15,000 by high-percentage trainer Joseph Martin, who wins at a 25% rate with new claiming acquisitions, Epic will pick up leading rider Pablo Morales and figures to be formidable, even with the step up to the $20,000 level.

But Epic is a one-run deep closer, and there isn’t an abundance of pace in Wednesday’s field, which could give an advantage to #6 Homers Magic (4-1).

A talented frontrunner who boasts the ability to rate off the lead if necessary, Homers Magic has shown fine form on dirt. Since the beginning of August, he has won three of his four starts at Thistledown and Mountaineer and most notably won a pair of allowance races at a mile or farther.

With four straight Brisnet Speed ratings of 86 or better, Homers Magic brings the best recent speed figures to the equation. If he handles the switch to Tapeta, this 4-year-old gelding might just steal away on an easy lead and forget to stop.

Let’s box Homers Magic and Epic in the exacta.

$10 exacta box: 1,6 ($20)

Good luck!