Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for July 13

Race One:

1^st: (2) BENEDICTUS – did nothing in his first two career starts at long odds on the dirt at Oaklawn Park. He improved some here in his Tapeta debut then was a game third last out when he chased a good pace to the final yards.

2^nd: (5) SPIRITED SOL – returned off the long layoff two starts back here with a decent second against maiden claimers then was a game second against this maiden level when chasing the pace from the inside. Erin Walker rides back.   

3^rd: (1) CROWLEY’S WAR – speedball tired in his last two starts going two turns for Glenn Wismer, who wins 25% in this spot.

Race Two:

1^st: (6) LEONARD’S LEGACY – speedy gelding has made the lead easily in his last four starts but can’t hang on. He came back from an eight-month layoff here with a good second when used hard from post one, so maybe the outside post will help him relax enough.

2^nd: (2) KEYSTONE HANK – added Lasix two starts back and was an even third from post one. He chased the top choice last out to no avail, and I can’t see any reason that he can make up the difference today.

3^rd: (1) SLENDER BETSY – looks to be the best of the rest but has to break alertly from post one.

Race Three:

1^st: (1) AMERICAN GODDESS – beat allowance foes two races in a row here then lost all chance last out when she broke behind the field and chased wide. Daughter of American Pharoah drops down to a claimer for the first time.

2^nd: (4) CHEWY CHEWY GOOD – raced evenly going six furlongs in her first start off the claim by Marcus Vitali, then she came back and just missed when stretched out to two turns. Vitali wins 15% of the time going long and 29% when he uses Gaddiel Martinez.   

3^rd: (3) MAKE NO MISTAKE – had two sprint preps here then beat this class level last out as the 6-5 favorite.

Race Four:

1^st: (7) CANCAN SAREE – was badly outrun in her first six career starts on the dirt then shipped here and suddenly improved. She just missed in her Tapeta debut then came back two starts later with a good effort. She put blinkers back on and ran her best speed rating.

2^nd: (1) CALL TONY – did nothing in her first three career starts against better then shipped here and raced evenly against this maiden claiming level. Daughter of Mastery adds blinkers and gets leading rider Pablo Morales back aboard.   

3^rd: (2) RAW HONEY – shows decent speed on occasion and was third last out against this class and distance.

Race Five:

1^st: (2) TIDAL WATERS – went gate to wire in her first start off the claim by Tim Girten against males then beat females by over seven lengths as the odds-on favorite. She resists the move up in price so she will probably win and be claimed.

2^nd: (6) STUCK UP – was outrun in his first start off the long layoff then dropped down to this class level and missed by a length as the 13-10 favorite. Ron Potts wins 20% of first starts after being beaten as the favorite.

3^rd: (1) WHISKEY DASH – won at this distance last out here but did it from post eight and now will have to keep up early from the rail.

Race Six:

1^st: (5) CUZ – winless in 10 tries here but many of them came against better company. He was a good second last out behind a next-out winner then just missed when he chased the pace. Rocco Bowen rides back — 12% with his sprint rides.

2^nd: (3) SAMURAI LEGACY – speedy horse for the course won two in a row against cheaper then moved up to this claiming level and led to the final yards as the 7-10 favorite. Dave Markgraf is 6-for-12 in first starts after being beaten as the favorite.

3^rd: (1) SAVE THE DRAMA – horse for the course ran second against this claiming level last year and moves up off the claim by Kevin Rice.

Race Seven:

1^st: (2) STEVIS MAN – 12-year-old legend has won 20 times here and gets exposed for $20K. He was a good third against these three starts back on a dull track for Shelly Radosevich, who wins 18% of the time with her overall claiming starters.

2^nd: (1) CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT – was a good second two starts back here in his first start off the claim by Gerry Brooks. He won his last start when dropped in class and now moves back up a notch off the re-claim by Tim Girten.

3^rd: (6) FLATTER ME PLEASE – raced evenly in two starts here then showed better speed before weakening late.

Race Eight:

1^st: (4) PRAIRIE CITIZEN – you shouldn’t handicap off one race, but this seven-year-old mare has been getting beaten by wide margins at long odds but somehow was a close second at 40-1 last out here behind a next-out winner.

2^nd: (2) SUMMER HELPER – turns back to a sprint after running well here three starts back. She did nothing when moved up in class off the claim but improved last out when dropped back down to this class level.

3^rd: (3) ANOTHERMANICMONDAY – broke her maiden here last out despite a troubled trip and drops down in class off the claim.