Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis by Dick Powell Wednesday 09/20/23

Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Wednesday's card at Presque Isle Downs. 

Race One:

1st: (1) IMFREEFALLIN – ran well against this maiden claiming level two starts back in her career debut and then showed speed for a half-mile when moved up in class. She drops back down and gets a major rider upgrade to Martina Rojas.   

2nd: (5) CASTLE BORN – still a maiden after 21 starts but she will never meet a group this weak. She showed good speed on dirt going two turns on the dirt two starts back and then rallied in a turf sprint against much better maidens. 

3rd: (3) BABY BLUE – rallied from far back to get third going two turns and could get a piece from behind. 

Race Two:

1st: (5) MILITARY DRILL – horse for the course beat this claiming level and then rallied for fourth in fast time against open allowance foes. He came back against these last out and missed by a neck. Ed Rojas wins 32% with Martina Rojas. 

2nd: (7) STRAIGHTOUTADUTTON – began the year when he tired after a half-mile against open allowance foes and then was second two races in a row behind the top choice. Last out, he went gate to wire but he needs to break running from an outside post.   

3rd: (8) HAIG POINT – one-dimensional closer rallied for second here last out going six furlongs against better company. 

Race Three:

1st: (2) ENJOY THE MUSIC – horse for the course has won 11 times here. He is three for three this year and actually drops two pounds. Larry Rivelli wins 35% with his synthetic-track starters and 33% first start after a win. 

2nd: (5) BANYAN BREEZE – shipper from Finger Lakes just missed two starts back against high-class allowance foes. He chased the pace wide last out and drops in class for Mark Tasso, who wins 13% with his synthetic-track starters.   

3rd: (6) SAN COSTANTINO – raced evenly in a turf sprint two starts back and then did well on the dirt in fast time. 

Race Four:

1st: (3) RUNAWAY STAR – returned off a ten-month layoff and went gate to wire here. He tired last out against state-bred allowance foes and now drops way down in class for Cassondra Weaver, who wins 27% with her synthetic-track starters. 

2nd: (7) CROWLEY’S WAR – beat this claiming level two starts back as the odds-on favorite and then was an even third going 6 1/2 furlongs. He moves back up a notch for Glenn Wismer, who wins 26% with his overall claimers.  

3rd: (6) T C GREELEY – he is at his best when he breaks running and he gets Martina Rojas, who has won on him before. 

Race Five:

1st: (2) HECTOR – ran well in his first two career starts against this maiden level, but then tired last out as the odds-on favorite against open allowance foes. Ron Potts wins 25% first start after being beaten as the favorite. 

2nd: (6) ROCK N REWARD – first-time starter from Tim Girten, who wins 22% with his debut runners and 22% against this maiden level. The daughter of Warrior’s Reward (12% debut winners) is working bullets here and gets Antonio Gallardo. 

3rd: (3) LOVE SHAQ – first-time starter from Keri Brion—14% with her debut runners—is training well on the Tapeta at Fair Hill. 

Race Six:

1st: (7) FORTUNE SELLER – held well in his career debut going two turns on the turf at Saratoga and then tired on the Tapeta at Woodbine. Kevin Rice wins 15% with his synthetic-track starters and gets Addiel Ayala back aboard. 

2nd: (3) EXPRESS STAR – was an even third in his career debut here going 5 1/2 furlongs and then ran well when stretched out to two turns. Gary Wales, who got off to a slow start here, picks up the mount. 

3rd: (4) LOU THE BODY – first-time starter from Larry Rivelli is by Violence—18% with his debut runners. 

Race Seven:

1st: (4) SHORTY MAC – turf sprinter from Penn National broke his maiden and then came back to win again. After weakening last out against males, she tries Tapeta for Ron Rogers, who wins 29% with this surface switch.    

2nd: (8) I’M HEADING EAST – broke her maiden three starts back from off the pace and then came back to beat state-bred claimers. She rallied five wide to miss by a nose last out against this state-bred allowance level for Ed Rojas.    

3rd: (2) STRAIGHT MADNESS – horse for the course has done little this year but has plenty of back class. 

Race Eight:

1st: (8) GIANTSBANE – still a maiden after 12 tries with 10 coming on turf. Was a game second in a wide trip from post 10 two starts back at Colonial Downs and then showed good speed there. Sarah Nagle wins 17% with his maiden claimers.  

2nd: (1) MR. YASUDA – still a maiden after 12 tries but he was a good second against this maiden claiming level. Debbie Schaber hasn’t won a race all year but is able to get leading rider Pablo Morales to ride. 

3rd: (5) THREE O ONE – former steeplechase runner ran well here last out as the 9-5 favorite. 

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