Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Friday, Sept. 20, 2024

Dick Powell handicaps the Friday card at Presque Isle Downs, featuring four stakes races.

Race 1

1st: (6) DRUNKLE – has run well in all three starts here and his last was the best. Unless one of the first-time starters can run, his form is better than anyone in here. Leland Hayes wins 17% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

2nd: (7) RANSOM MONEY – showed high speed two starts back behind the top choice, then race evenly behind him. He draws outside for a stalking trip with Huber Villa-Gomez back in the saddle. 

3rd: (1) SECRET TROUBLE – was a game second on the dirt in his well-bet career debut at Thistledown. 

Race 2

1st: (6) Q F SEVENTY FIVE – won two in a row going two turns against similar company, then rallied strong in good time. He came back and won easily for Ron Potts, who wins 17% first start after a win.  

2nd: (5) FLAWLESS BOURBON – horse for the course just missed two starts back after carving out the pace, then he held on by a nose against open allowance foes. Mike Pappada wins 27% first start after a win and he knows how to spot his good horses.  

3rd: (7) COPPERLITE – beat cheaper on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park, then won again when moved up in class. 

Race 3: Presque Isle Debutante S.

1st: (8) MISS SAUGERTIES – romped by three lengths in her well-bet career debut going five furlongs on the Tapeta at Woodbine and gets Irad Ortiz, Jr. in a major vote of confidence. Tiz The Law is off to a great start with his first crop to race. 

2nd: (7) FOXTASTIC – chased the pace to be second as the beaten favorite in her career debut at Woodbine and has trained well since then for Josie Carroll, who wins 29% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

3rd: (9) PERFECT FIGURE – won her career debut in a turf sprint but merits attention from the Brad Cox barn. 

Race 4

1st: (5) STARSHIP EMPIRE – had three straight narrow losses here against better company, then was an even third last out. Horse for the course draws well with Willie Martinez riding back for Scooter Davis. 

2nd: (2) RUNAWAY HARRY – horse for the course has won 8 of 10 starts here and will be the one to catch from inside with Ron Allen, Jr. riding back. Off for about six weeks, he has a strong five-furlong breeze for this. 

3rd: (6) BRUMBA WAFFLE TOES – is winless this year in eight starts but they all came against much better company. 

Race 5: Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile S.

1st: (9) MR. SQUEAKY WHEELS – won his career debut here going 4 1/2 furlongs in good time, then ran well at Saratoga on the dirt. He ran poorly at Ellis Park so he returns here for Adam Rice, who wins 33% against this stakes level.  

2nd: (6) HOMIE – was an easy winner in a turf sprint at Indiana and tries Tapeta for Larry Rivelli. Son of Mendelssohn has enough gate speed to keep up and Rivelli wins 38% against this stakes level  

3rd: (8) TAP THAT MAGIC – won going away here in his career debut and the son of Good Magic will be a stretch factor. 

Race 6

1st: (9) TAPSOLUTION – beat bottom-level claimers two starts back, then ran extremely well when moved up to open allowance foes. He drops back down in class for Scooter Davis, who wins 27% with his synthetic-track starters. 

2nd: (6) AQUITANIA ARRIVAL – makes his synthetic-track debut off some decent efforts on the dirt in Ohio. He just missed two starts back, then was a good second in a wide trip. Nestor Rivera wins 20% with his overall claimers and 24% with Angel Diaz.

3rd: (2) HE’S A GOOD DANCER – one-dimensional closer just missed two starts back against much better. 

Race 7: Presque Isle Mile

1st: (8) FOREVER SOUPER – was a sharp winner two starts back going nine furlongs in fast time on the turf at Laurel, then shipped here and romped against stakes foes in fast time. Mike Trombetta has had a great meet shipping in from Fair Hill.  

2nd: (10) FRANZ JOSEF – was a close third in this race last year and comes in here with some strong efforts. He shows five wins here over the years but will have to be used hard from his outside post.    

3rd: (7) ANAMNESTIC – was a good second behind the top choice here and Kelsey Danner is always dangerous at a price. 

Race 8

1st: (2) CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT – ran well on the Tapeta this winter at Turfway Park. He won here two starts back against similar company, then rallied for second in fast time as the odds-on favorite. 

2nd: (7) GOING UP – has two fast wins this season here against state-bred company and a third against turf sprint foes at Colonial Downs. Ron Potts wins 28% going turf to synthetic and with his allowance runners. 

3rd: (3) DIAMOND DUST – horse for the course ships back from Ohio, where he was third on the dirt. 

Race 9: Presque Isle Downs Masters (G2)

1st: (8) GAL IN A RUSH – won a grade three stakes race on the Tapeta at Woodbine going this distance, then missed by a neck there from post 11 going seven furlongs. Christophe Clement wins 26% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

2nd: (7) PANDORA’S GIFT – ran extremely well on synthetic track last year in England, then was a good third last out on the turf in Ireland. Daughter of Churchill gets Ben Curtis, who has found a home in America. 

3rd: (5) HEAVEN RULES – horse for the course moves up in class but has a fast win last out at today’s distance. 

Race 10

1st: (1) SPY NOVEL – improved some in his PID debut when blinkers were added. He came back to win going away against state-bred foes and now tries open company for Nolan Ramsey, who wins 38% with his synthetic-track starters.  

2nd: (5) MONEY IN MOTION – romped by over four lengths here as the odds-on favorite when he sat off a tepid pace. Son of Munnings is well spotted here by Mike Trombetta, who wins 18% with his synthetic-track starters and gets Gallardo back. 

3rd: (6) NINJA STAR – just missed here going six furlongs and now stretches out with Lasix added for the first time.