Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024

Dick Powell offers his selections for the Thursday program at Presque Isle Downs. 

Race 1

1st: (2) PENNY POLKA – finished off the board in her first two starts here against better company, then dropped down to this conditioned claiming level and held well to be third. Tim Hamm wins 22% with his claimers and with Pablo Morales.  

2nd: (4) DROWNINGNCHOCOLATE – just missed two starts back against better company, then tired last out after pressing the pace wide. She drops down in class for Mike Pappada, who wins 18% with this move and 19% with his synthetic-track starters.  

3rd: (3) LAST GLIMMER – broke her maiden back in July and then finished off the board against better company. 

Race 2

1st: (5) LENA KAHLENA – gunned to the front before weakening in her well-bet career debut here 80 days ago but now drops way down in class. She’s had three easy breezes since then and gets in light again with Brooke Bays. 

2nd: (7) CHEERFUL TROUT – winless in seven starts here but she has four seconds. She was a good second against state-bred maidens two starts back, then tired last out. Half-sister to six winners drops down again. 

3rd: (2) ROCK TUNE – dropped down to this level and just missed as the even-money favorite. 

Race 3

1st: (6) PEAK EARNINGS – tries Tapeta for the first time after four decent starts on the turf. Daughter of Kingman showed high speed last out in a turf sprint at Saratoga. Bill Morey wins 29% first start off the claim and adds blinkers for the first time. 

2nd: (4) GARNET AND GOLD – romped by 5 1/4 lengths in her well-bet career debut against maiden claimers and now moves up in class for Adam Rice, who wins 20% with his synthetic-track starters.

3rd: (3) MOMENTOUS MISS – moved up in class off the claim two starts back and just missed going gate to wire. 

Race 4

1st: (7) STIFLING HEAT – was a good second here in his well-bet career debut against this maiden claiming level. He comes back 16 days later for new trainer Tim Girten, who wins 26% with his maiden claimers and 31% with Morales. 

2nd: (3) COMPLEX CAT – showed speed on the dirt and turf in his first four career starts, then came here and was an even third behind the top choice in his Tapeta debut. Leland Hayes wins 21% with his maiden claimers and gets Gaddiel Martinez back.  

3rd: (6) CARROLL’S HONOR – first-time starter by Curlin’s Honor (13% debut winners) is a half to five winners from six races.

 Race 5

1st: (3) QUEEN WIGGY – horse for the course raced evenly two starts back against much better company, then showed high speed before tiring as the 6-5 favorite. She takes another drop in class for Tim Girten, who wins 39% first start after losing as the favorite.    

2nd: (6) I’M HEADING EAST – beat similar company four starts back, then raced evenly in three straight starts against state-bred allowance foes. She drops down to the bottom for Ed Rojas, who wins 24% with his synthetic-track starters. 

3rd: (9) CHEROKEE CHATTER – horse for the course was a sharp winner against this group and then raced evenly when stretched out. 

Race 6

1st: (6) BLAMEITONMYMOMMA – showed good speed two starts back when dropped down to this level, then missed going gate to wire from post 9 by a length last out. Gallardo rides back for Girten – 32% together. 

2nd: (7) SMART JOKER – made a strong middle move before weakening in his Tapeta debut here, then showed better speed next out. He rallied for second last out in fast time and now drops down in class for Maria Bowersock. 

3rd: (2) UNDERTOW – speedball ran well on the turf at Mountaineer Park before shipping here and tiring behind a brutal pace. 

Race 7

1st: (4) ROCK N REWARD – horse for the course beat open allowance foes, then was a good third as the 3-2 favorite against optional claimers. She raced evenly at two turns last out and now drops down in class and distance. 

2nd: (6) CUPID MISSED – took her eight starts to break her maiden, but she came right back to win against similar. Moving up in class last out, she missed by a neck and now drops down to a more realistic class level for Ron Potts. 

3rd: (1) NEGRA GATA – won her PID debut by 9 1/2 lengths and then showed it was not a fluke with a good win last out. 

Race 8

1st: (3) ENJOY THE MUSIC – his late rally fell just short two starts back, then he raced evenly in a long sprint in fast time. He removes blinkers and drops down in class for Matt Kintz, who wins 14% with his claimers and 15% on synthetic tracks.   

2nd: (5) WROTE IN STONE – went gate to wire two starts back going two turns, then raced evenly as the beaten favorite. He turns back to a sprint, which is his best distance anyway.

3rd: (7) THE SINNER IS YOU – horse for the course has won 12 times here and he’s only eight years old.