Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Aug. 16

Race One:

1st: #5 DAVE’S TEXAS LADY – was only beaten a length in a turf sprint at Mountaineer Park, where she showed high speed. She came back here and went gate to wire going this distance against this claiming level. Kris Fox rides back.

2nd: #2 HOT AUGUST STORM – chased the top choice in her Tapeta debut here from a wide post and draws inside that rival today. Miguel Jimenez wins 16% with his claimers, and the last 103 of them show a flat-bet profit. Antonio Gallardo rides.

3rd: #1 LADY MARVEL – speedball ran well against males two starts back then romped on the dirt at Mountaineer Park.

 

Race Two:

1st: #3 GOLD WING – returned off a five-month layoff and held on for third going this distance two starts back. He weakened last out and tries them again for John Guciardo, who wins 25% of third starts off the layoff and is 3-for-7 with Avery Whisman.

2nd: #1 BELIEVEINHOLIDAYS – showed good speed two starts back before weakening in the final yards then came back and was able to finish strong. He meets the same group from the rail for Bill Martin, who wins 21% of first starts after a win.

3rd: #6 COOPER’S CRESCENT – faded after disputing the pace then held on better last out. Has been in the money 28 times here.

 

Race Three:

1st: #5 BOURBON BROWN – ran well on the turf down at Tampa Bay Downs this winter then shipped here and missed going gate to wire by a neck. Son of Big Brown set a faster pace last out and paid for it in the stretch.

2nd: #3 RICHARD HOOTY – woke up when dropped way down in class when he rallied from 15 lengths behind to win going away. He moves up a bit in class today for Matt Kintz, who wins 22% with his synthetic-track starters and 20% with his claimers.

3rd: #6 CREATIVE CHOICE – dropped down to this conditioned claiming level last out and showed good speed to the stretch.

 

Race Four:

1st: #1 MUY CHISTOSA – showed speed on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park against much better company. Now with Teresa Connelly, she drops way down in class and draws the rail with Antonio Gallardo — 13% with his sprint rides.

2nd: #6 LIBERTALIA – still winless after 13 tries, and the last four came here against this maiden claiming level. The first three were going two turns then she turned back to six furlongs and ran well despite traffic problems.

3rd: #2 SHEER ALICE – did nothing here when dropped way down in class as the 6-5 favorite then moved up and ran well.

 

Race Five:

1st: #3 MEGAN MAKIN MONEY – was a game second here going five furlongs when she battled for the lead every step. Ron Potts wins 19% with his maiden special weight starters and 14% when he rides Huber Villa-Gomez.

2nd: #8 ZIP CODE ENVY – first-time starter from Tim Hamm, who wins 16% with his debut runners and 18% when they debut at this level. Daughter of California Chrome is training bullets here and gets Pablo Morales — 33% with Hamm.

3rd: #5 LA PANDA – first-time starter by The Big Beast, whose offspring win 22% on debut.

 

Race Six:

1st: #2 SWEET MOOCHIE – after being soundly beaten in two starts here against open allowance foes, she dropped down to this claiming level and was an even fourth. She just missed last out and draws inside again for Lisa Allen.

2nd: #1 LAWN DART – seems to run a big race every other start, and she ran great last out as the 3-5 favorite. Gerry Brooks wins 16% of first starts after a win and 30% when he rides Antonio Gallardo. Horse for the course has won eight times here.

3rd: #5 RIVERSIDE WALK – horse for the course showed good speed in two starts this year and now drops down in class.

 

Race Seven:

1st: #1 LIFE MISSION – beat this claiming level two starts back when he went gate to wire in very fast time. He moved up in class and tired late after disputing the pace and now drops back to his winning level for Leland Hayes, who wins 22% on synthetic tracks.

2nd: #3 STEVIS MAN – ultimate horse for the course has won 21 times here and shows no signs of letting up at the age of 12. He went gate to wire last out after being allowed to set a modest pace, and Walber Alencar could work out a stalking trip from here.

3rd: #7 GINS AND TINS – chased the top choice three starts back in his first start off the claim by Scooter Davis.

 

Race Eight:

1st: #1 AMERICAN CHAOS – just missed in his Presque Isle debut two starts back when he battled for the lead to the final strides. Claimed that day, he held on for third when dropped down in class as the odds-on favorite, but Pablo Morales rides back.

2nd: #5 SPEED WAY – ships in from Woodbine and drops way down in class. He had two even starts on the Tapeta there and had a blistering five-furlong workout here on Aug. 5. At this bargain price, I would think he would be claimed, so all systems are go.

3rd: #6 GENERALONAMISSION – dropped down to this claiming level and raced evenly with blinkers added.