Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Aug. 23

Race One:

1st: #1 GEARED UP – raced evenly two starts in a row here going two turns then was shuffled back from post one to get up for third going six furlongs. Now, back at two turns, the rail should help her work out a trip with Pablo Morales.

2nd: #2 VACCINA – was a decent third two starts back going two turns when moved up to this class level and then showed much better speed going six furlongs. Gaddiel Martinez rides back — 15% with his sprinters, and the last 78 show a flat-bet profit.

3rd: #3 MOTITO – tired after five furlongs last out when she took on males and tries the distance again.

 

Race Two:

1st: #1 PATSY’S BIG GIRL – was claimed for this price and immediately won going a two-turn mile in very fast time. She moved up in class and raced evenly and now drops down in class for Mike Pappada, who wins 35% of first starts after being beaten as the favorite.

2nd: #4 SASSY MISS MARGIE – was a game second behind the top choice two starts back then moved up in class and raced evenly behind a slow pace. John Fennessy has had a strong meet, and this mare might have enough back class to handle these.

3rd: #3 ADDISON – hate to handicap a horse off one start, but she looked great here last out in her Presque Isle debut.

 

Race Three:

1st: #4 BOOMIN GOOSE – woke up two starts back with a good second behind a next-out winner, then came back and won easily. Horse for the course draws well and gets Pablo Morales back aboard — 28% with his route mounts.

2nd: #1 ADIOS BOBBY – had been running well stalking the pace, then he went to the front and won easily last out. Mike Pappada wins 29% of first starts after a win and 17% when he teams up with Erin Walker. Rail draw should help.

3rd: #2 ST. PADDY’S DADDY – raced evenly against better company then dropped down to this level and was a good second.

 

Race Four:

1st: #2 CALL TONY – added blinkers two starts back and showed good speed for a half-mile. She dropped further in class last out and won by three lengths as the even-money favorite. Tim Hamm wins 18% first time going long, and she certainly has the pedigree.

2nd: #3 SHE’S A THREAT – put blinkers back on last out and rallied from last to get second against one level better. She has had many chances but might not ever face a group as weak as this one. Mike Allen rides back — 19% with Fennessy.

3rd: #4 BAROLA – missed by a length two starts back then was used hard from post nine before weakening.

 

Race Five:

1st: #2 FALK – you don’t have to be Columbo to figure out that this first-time starter could come out running. Son of Constitution (19% debut winners) is out of a dam that has produced four winners, including a stakes winner.

2nd: #3 SHAMMAH – battled for the lead every step of the way before losing by a head as the 3-2 favorite. He comes back against the same group for Tim Hamm, who wins 12% with his second-time starters and 25% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

3rd: #5 SCHIFFHAUER STRONG – rallied from off the pace, took the lead, then lost by a head in his career debut.

 

Race Six:

1st: #5 PATRIOT DRIVE – returned here with two solid races against much better company then did nothing last out in a fast race. Off for 55 days, he drops down in class to a level that he beat here the last time he faced them.

2nd: #2 JEN’S SONG – horse for the course won here last out with a late rally and now drops a notch in class for Kimberly DePasquale, who wins 11% of first starts after a win. Pablo Morales rides back.

3rd: #3 HEAT OF THE NIGHT – went gate to wire two starts back then was only beaten three lengths when moved up in class.

 

Race Seven:

1st: #5 DRIFTWOOD – went gate to wire against similar company two starts back here in good time then did nothing in the slop in an off-the-turf event at Mountaineer Park against stakes foes. Ron Potts wins 10% going dirt to synthetic and gets Scott Spieth.

2nd: #6 ALABAMA SLAMMER – had been running on the turf in Florida before shipping here and running third. She comes back three weeks later and shows a bullet five-furlong breeze last week to get ready for this.

3rd: #4 COOL COMEDIAN – beat first-level allowance foes two starts back at Penn National but tired here in a stakes race.

 

Race Eight:

1st: #3 LUCKY NINETEEN – was soundly beaten in his first four career starts against much better company. He came here and showed good speed before tiring then ran the same race last out. This is a giant drop in class, but so what.

2nd: #10 DUN RIGHT – held on for second going six furlongs two starts back then stretched out to two turns and led to the top of the stretch. Glenn Wismer wins 28% going long to short and gets Avery Whisman — 24% with his sprint mounts.  

3rd: #8 NATHANIEL’S HOPE – still a maiden after 13 tries, but he was a decent third last out against these.