Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for July 20

Race One:

1^st: (1) THISAINTJUMPSTREET – ran good enough two starts back then was a distant second as the odds-on favorite going two turns. Claimed by Ed Rojas, she returns against bottom-level claimers while picking up Pablo Morales.

2^nd: (6) EMERALD CITADELLE – speedball breaking from the outside makes her fourth start of the season. She just missed three starts back then was a good second on a dull track. Last out, she tired in the final furlong but can relax better out here.

3^rd: (3) YES IT’S ERIE – horse for the course woke up last out at 13-1 for Randy Russell — 26% with Alberto Burgos.

Race Two:

1^st: (3) MORE RANSOM (Scratched) – was a game second two starts back then lost all chance last out when she broke poorly as the odds-on favorite. She adds Lasix and blinkers for Tim Girten, who wins 44% with Pablo Morales.

2^nd: (4) HIDDEN MEDAL – tired in her career debut but came back with Lasix and blinkers added and held on for second after surging to the lead in the deep stretch. Lance Stokes wins 21% with his maiden special weight starters.

3^rd: (5) TUDOX I DON’T BRAG – showed high speed from post nine in her well-bet career debut for Ron Potts.

Race Three:

1^st: (3) CALL ME LATER – finished up last year in good form on the dirt then came back off a six-month layoff with a good third as the lukewarm favorite against this claiming level. John Grace brings him right back against the same group.

2^nd: (6) STRANGE ARRANGE – broke his maiden here two starts back in his Tapeta debut then came back against this claiming level in his first start off the claim by Nelson Figueroa and held on by a neck.

3^rd: (1) BLAKENSTEIN – just missed against this claiming level last out in his second start of this year’s meet.

Race Four:

1^st: (7) SQUAD UP – was a sharp winner two starts back as the odds-on favorite then dropped down to this claiming level and was a good second. Off for 275 days, she gets a free swing with her claiming price being waived by Ron Potts.

2^nd: (9) RUN LAUGHING – returns to the races off a 658-day layoff for Bill Martin, who wins 16% in this spot, and the last 135 starters coming off long layoffs show a healthy flat-bet profit. She won her last two starts and gets Pablo Morales. Workouts say ready.

3^rd: (3) ROYAL GOLD DIGGER – broke her maiden in her Tapeta debut then came back to win again for Aldana Spieth. 

Race Five:

1^st: (4) WILD IRISH – still a maiden at the age of six, but she has run well in all four starts on the Tapeta. She showed good speed here two starts back behind a next-out winner then settled better last out and was still around at the finish.

2^nd: (5) LINGUISTIC – has improved in all three of her starts so it looks like she’s ready to graduate. After racing evenly here in her first start off the layoff, she battled to the deep stretch before giving it up in the final yards.

3^rd: (7) SHE’S REDNECKER – ran well at Churchill Downs in her well-bet career debut for Matt Kintz.

Race Six:

1^st: (5) WROTE IN STONE – looked good when he went gate to wire in fast time two starts back then held on for third when moved up in class. He drops a bit in class here, and Walber Alencar rides back — 15% with his sprint rides. 

2^nd: (1) TEMPLEMAN ALLEY (Scratched) – broke his maiden in the mud going this distance then tired when stretched out to two turns. He raced evenly last out and now tries Tapeta for the first time. Tim Hamm wins 23% going from dirt to synthetic.

3^rd: (4) STUDYLONGSTDYWRONG – broke his maiden here last out even though it looked like his prior start was much better.

Race Seven:

1^st: (7) PETIT VERDOT – ran well on the dirt at Oaklawn Park before shipping here and crushing this level by over five lengths in blazing-fast time. Tom Van Berg is 3-for-4 at the meet and wins 34% with his synthetic-track starters. 

2^nd: (4) LIFE MISSION – horse for the course tired in his first two starts here then ran a blinder last out when he opened up a commanding lead and held on in super time. Leland Hayes wins 28% with his allowance runners.

3^rd: (1) TWIRLING MAMBA – won his PID debut two starts back here against similar company then missed by a nose.

Race Eight:

1^st: (4) CASTLE KING – has two seconds and a third in three starts here this year against this class level going two turns. Maria Bowersock brings him back to try them again, except this time she has the leading rider at the meet, Pablo Morales, aboard. 

2^nd: (7) NO DRAMA – was a sharp winner going six furlongs last out when he sat way off the pace and blew by the field in the stretch. He has won going this distance before, and Mike Rogers wins 21% going long off two sprints.

3^rd: (1) FIERCE WARRIOR – could be tough if he can repeat his last winning race, which kind of came out of nowhere.