Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Aug. 31

Race One:

1st: #7 KEYPIT – showed high speed two starts back before getting caught at the wire then came back and rallied for second after sitting off a slow pace. Daughter of Congrats has to use her speed going into the first turn but seems capable of doing it.

2nd: #5 CROSSTOWN GIRL – ran well going two turns against better company. She drops down in class off a sharp win against $12,500 claimers for Tim Girten, who wins 19% with this move and 23% when he rides Antonio Gallardo.

3rd: #4 WINDY CITY GIRL – nine of her last starts came on turf but her one start on Tapeta at Turfway Park was a winner.

Race Two:

1st: #2 COACH P – returned off a 20-month layoff and with the addition of Lasix, he romped going six furlongs on the dirt at Finger Lakes. He ran poorly there against allowance foes and drops in class for Stacy Torelli, who wins 28% of third starts off the layoff.

2nd: #6 WROTE IN STONE – broke his maiden by over four lengths three starts back then came back and weakened in a long sprint. He showed much better speed last out as the 3-5 favorite and gets Walber Alencar, who wins 14% with his sprint rides.

3rd: #3 SAN COSTANTINO – broke his maiden here in his career debut, which resulted in him racing against better company.

Race Three:

1st: #2 SAVAGE – beat state-bred allowance foes here last year then came back this year with two turf starts. He ships back here for Larry Rivelli, who wins 32% with this surface switch and 33% with his synthetic-track starters. Pablo Morales picks up the mount.

2nd: #3 CHARLIE CHARLIE – horse for the course rallied from off the pace to win two of three starts then was an even third here last out. He moves up in class for Larry Hayes, who wins 18% with his sprinters and gets Scott Spieth back aboard.

3rd: #4 SAMURAI ZIP – ultimate horse for the course has won 21 times here and placed 24 times in only 62 starts.

Race Four:

1st: #4 EXTRA MEDIUM – dropped down to this class level and just missed as the 11-10 favorite. He came back against the same group and missed by a head and tries them again for Mike Rogers, who wins 16% with his claimers.

2nd: #5 LEAVEITALONELARRY – has improved in all three starts here this year so he could be sitting on a big race. Lacking gate speed, he needs a trip on the outside but gets Walber Alencar back aboard.

3rd: #6 WATCH THE DIP – has been running consistently lately but doesn’t win enough to be considered any higher.

Race Five:

1st: #7 ULTIMATE BARONESS – was claimed for this price three starts back then ran fourth against better claimers and state-bred allowance foes. Now, she drops back down to the right level for Justin Morrell, who wins 12% with his sprint starters.

2nd: #8 STRAIGHT MADNESS – horse for the course was outrun in her last three starts here against state-bred allowance foes and now drops down to bottom-level claimers, which she beat the last time she faced them. Addiel Ayala rides back.

3rd: #2 LETS RACE LADYS – was only beaten two lengths last out in an improved performance.

Race Six:

1st: #9 GIRL AFRAID – speedy filly stretches out to two turns for Matt Kintz, who is 2-for-7 stretching out and wins 23% of first starts out of his barn. Daughter of Not This Time, who just sired the winner of the Travers, should have no trouble getting the distance.

2nd: #3 ELSA’S ROCKET – stretched out to two turns two starts back but did it against males. Daughter of Ghostzapper returned against females and was an even second. Adam Rice wins 18% with his overall two-year-olds.

3rd: #2 ZORA – tried two turns for the first time last out and was an even third, and should improve off that effort.

Race Seven:

1st: #3 PETIT VERDOT – made his Tapeta debut three starts back and promptly won by over five lengths. After running an even second, he came back and won by a nose. Tom Van Berg wins 34% with his synthetic-track starters and is 2-for-2 with Morales.

2nd: #4 THE SINNER IS YOU – horse for the course has won eight times here in 14 tries and has the fastest speed rating on synthetic tracks. He was a good third in a very fast stakes race two starts back then won easily last out.

3rd: #6 SAINT GOAR – battled for the lead every step of the way going two turns then came back and ran better at six furlongs.

Race Eight:

1st: #7 LOOKING FOR LOVE – took her 15 starts to break her maiden, which she did three starts back here. After being used hard from post 11 and hanging on for third, the daughter of Animal Kingdom came back and went gate to wire.

2nd: #1 SQUAD UP – ran well two starts in a row against this conditioned claiming level then moved up in class and distance and was an even fourth. Ron Potts wins 15% dropping in class and he gets Willie Martinez — 21% with his sprint mounts.

3rd: #10 DOWN TO EARTH – has found a home against this class level with a third and four seconds against them.