Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Aug. 28, 2023

Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Monday's card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race One:

1st: (5) LA PANDA – romped three starts back going a two-turn mile in fast time, then raced evenly against better. She came back and missed by a length last out and now drops down in class. Daughter of The Big Beast gets in light again with Martina Rojas.

2nd: (6) BABY DRAGON – dropped down to this claiming level and was a good second going six furlongs, then came back with an even fourth behind the top choice. Randy Russell wins 18% going long.

3rd: (2) LEAD PERFORMER – speedball opened up a big lead before tiring late last out against these.

Race Two:

1st: (6) WREAKING HAVOC – broke her maiden on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park two starts back, then raced evenly last out against much better company. Daughter of Mastery drops way down in class for Bill Martin.

2nd: (1) ANA L – one-dimensional closer will be up against a severe bias going this distance here. She was second in her last two starts and returns from the rail with Pablo Morales back aboard – 25% with his sprint rides.

3rd: (4) UPTOWN CHARLOTTE – broke her maiden two starts back, then showed good speed before tiring last out.

Race Three:

1st: (2) THE SINNER IS YOU – horse for the course won nine times here over the years. Gelded son of Into Mischief just missed two starts back, then weakened after making a strong middle move going two turns. He goes back to a sprint and gets Morales.

2nd: (4) TWIRLING MAMBA – was an even third two starts back in his first start in over eight months. He came back and won by a nose after stalking the pace and faces the same group. Bill Martin wins 19% first start after a win.    

3rd: (3) GENERAL WINSTON – horse for the course won going away two starts back as the 3-2 favorite.

Race Four:

1st: (3) CLEMSON TIGER – just missed two starts back going two turns, then came back and went gate to wire. Son of Noble Mission drops down in class for Aldana Spieth and gets Scott back, who shows a flat-bet profit with his 71 route rides this year.   

2nd: (2) GOLD WING – 10-year-old has won three times here but placed 18 other times. He showed good speed on the dirt at Gulfstream Park two starts back, then was an even fourth last out here. Rojas rides back.

3rd: (1) VALDOLOBO – woke up last out here in his second start of the year for Martin.

Race Five:

1st: (6) COUNTY COURT – horse for the course was a close third two starts back, but came back and won going away last out. He hides out against starter allowance foes for Ed Rojas, who wins 34% first start after a win.

2nd: (2) RUNAWAY HARRY – speedball went gate to wire two starts back to win easily, then came back to do it again by a neck as the even-money favorite. Mike Pappada wins 25% first start after a win.

3rd: (5) SUN DADDY – beat open allowance foes two starts back, then beat $25K claimers by a neck as the 6-5 favorite.

Race Six:

1st: (7) R ADMIRAL – took 14 tries to break his maiden, but we have seen many perennial maidens do well in their first start against winners. He has a big pace advantage against these, and John Fennessy is having a strong meet with Mike Allen.

2nd: (2) WORLDS ON HIGH – was second against this conditioned claiming level four races in a row and should be able to work out a pocket trip from here with Gaddiel Martinez. Kevin Rice wins 18% with his overall claimers, and they show a flat-bet profit.

3rd: (6) SUPER GREMLIN – stretches out to two turns off three sprints here for Rice, who wins 14% going short to long.

Race Seven:

1st: (5) RIO ABAJO – horse for the course made his seasonal debut a winning one three starts back, then tired in a very fast sprint. Off the claim, he was a good fourth and now drops in class for Tim Girten, who wins 41% when he rides Morales.

2nd: (1) BEAR CREEK – showed speed one start, then came back and rallied from way back to get second. He just missed against this claiming level last out for Mark Hoffman, who wins 18% with his sprinters, and the last 106 show a flat-bet profit.  

3rd: (6) GINS AND TINS – drops down in class off an even effort last out for Scooter Davis – 29% with his sprint starters.

Race Eight:

1st: (3) ROUND OF APPLAUSE – has yet to win here in four tries, but he drops way down in class. He weakened late after making a strong middle move last out for Girten, who wins 38% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

2nd: (2) CONRADO – weakened two starts back when dropped down to this class level, then lost by a head after opening up a clear lead. His best race lays over this field, and he should be able to work out a clear trip from here for Gaddiel Martinez.

3rd: (6) PITTSBURGH – one-dimensional closer could not overcome wide draws in his two starts here against much better.