Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis by Dick Powell for Oct. 26

Dick Powell offers his picks and analysis for the Wednesday racing card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race One:

1st: #7 AEGONTHECONQUEROR – gradually improved to where he went gate to wire two starts back in fast time. He came back against state-bred allowance foes and led to the deep stretch. He drops in class and gets Gaddiel Martinez.

2nd: #4 CALL ME PEAK – showed speed when he returned to the races this year and got it all together when he broke his maiden by five lengths last out. He faces winners with Addiel Ayala back aboard — does his best work with horses that have speed.

3rd: #2 PAID THE PREACHER – broke his maiden on dirt early in his career but has been tiring here on Tapeta.

 

Race Two:

1st: #2 GRAVE DANGER – began his career with four starts going two turns then turned back to six furlongs and ran better. He went back to two turns and was a good third last out for Matt Kintz, who wins 25% going long to short.

2nd: #3 SHEA D CAPTURE – has been racing in Gulfstream Park with little success on dirt and Tapeta. In his favor is that he has been facing better maidens than these for Juan Gotera, who is winning 23% this year.

3rd: #5 PAPA CHARLES – does not have early speed but does have some back class and a few races where he closes stoutly.

 

Race Three:

1st: #4 AZTEC PRINCESS – missed by a nose in her second career start when stretched out to two turns here. She came back with another second then raced evenly here last out. Tim Hamm wins 22% with his synthetic-track starters.

2nd: #8 SAL’S BLUE JACKET (scratched) – was an excellent third in her career debut here going six furlongs in fast time. Mike Stidham wins 17% with his second-time starters and 16% stretching out for the first time.

3rd: #1 VIVID EXPOSURE – has yet to try Tapeta but she has run well on dirt and turf already.

 

Race Four:

1st: #1 OLDZFOURFORTYTWO – beat this claiming level by a head then raced well when moved up in class. He returned to this level last out and was a good second in very fast time for Leland Hayes, who wins 22% with his overall sprint starters.

2nd: #3 K’S LITTLE BILL – horse for the course has won seven times here at the age of 10. He was in great form with a win and two seconds but then his last two starts were below par. Pablo Morales rides back — 27% with his sprint rides.

3rd: #4 CAPTAIN MAD JACK – was a sharp winner two starts back coming from off the pace then raced evenly last out.

 

Race Five:

1st: #4 TWIRLING MAMBA – missed by a neck in blazing fast time two starts back against better company then tired against them last out. He drops down to a more realistic class level for Bill Martin, who wins 23% of first starts after being beaten as the favorite.

2nd: #5 FUEL THE BERN – won three straight starts against lesser company then was an even fourth going 6 1/2 furlongs in good time. He won last out and moves up in class again for Mike Rogers, who wins 18% of first starts after a win.

3rd: #2 GINS AND TINS – beat this claiming level three starts back then was an even third and showed speed going a mile.

 

Race Six:

1st: #2 MISS MIKAELA (scratched) – beat $25K claimers in her Presque Isle debut three starts back then tired against this level. She opened up a big lead before getting caught against better in extremely fast time. John Guciardo wins 14% with his route starters.

2nd: #3 CHARGES DROPPED – turf horse from California drops down in class for Mike McCarthy. She just missed in a minor turf stakes race at Golden Gate about a month ago and shows a bullet workout on the dirt at Churchill Downs for this.

3rd: #5 FORGOTTEN PEACE – speedball does well going one or two turns for Tim Girten.

 

Race Seven:

1st: #4 LAKE LUCERNE – daughter of the great Dubawi has won on the Tapeta at Woodbine and will have no trouble getting the distance here. She has faced mostly graded stakes company this year, and Brendan Walsh wins 22% going from turf to synthetic.

2nd: #8 DECIDING VOTE – has won stakes races on turf and slop so she should be able to handle the transition to synthetic. She has no gate speed but will be flying through the stretch in her second start off a short layoff.

3rd: #1 READY TO VENTURE – turf sprinter stretches out to two turns but has won on Tapeta at Woodbine already.

 

Race Eight:

1st: #10 FED UP FIRED UP – made one start here against better and did nothing, but her last two starts on turf at Mountaineer Park were a major improvement and she shows up here against bottom claimers. Pablo Morales picks up the mount.

2nd: #4 MAUK’S TUFF – turf horse from Mountaineer Park beat the top choice last out when she rallied wide to get up in time. She has some tactical speed, and Scott Spieth should be able to work out a trip from here.

3rd: #9 THISAINTJUMPSTREET – improved some two starts back after blinkers were added, but she will have to improve again.