Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, July 10, 2023

Dick Powell offers his selections for the Monday card at Presque Isle Downs.

 

Race One:

1^st: (4) SALLY’S MUSTANG – showed speed for a half-mile off the long layoff then came back and won by seven lengths. She has run similar speed ratings before, so it should not set her back any. Not claimed last out, she comes back for the same price.

2^nd: (7) DEISE DELIGHT – ran well from post 11 at Turfway Park then was out of the money in her last three starts. She should get a lot out of her last start going two turns on the turf at Belterra and gets Pablo Morales.

3^rd: (2) LOOKING FOR LOVE – horse for the course has a ton of early speed and should be tough if Mike Allen can break him well.

 

Race Two:

1^st: (7) NATHANIEL’S HOPE – is winless here in 12 tries, but he has six placings and drops back down to bottom maiden claimers. He just missed two starts back then could not handle the move up in class.

2^nd: (4) CLOSE KNIT – one-dimensional closer just missed on the Tapeta at Turfway Park but was beaten 41 lengths in his next two starts on dirt. He drops in class for Katy Cheeks, who wins 29% with her overall maiden claimers.

3^rd: (1) SPY TOWN – was out of the money in nine starts in a row on all three surfaces but woke up here last out against this level.

 

Race Three:

1^st: (6) ANA L – just missed two starts back here going 5 1/2 furlongs then dropped down some and won going away. She stretches out to two turns for Katy Cheeks, who wins 18% stretching out and gets in light again with Martina Rojas.

2^nd: (1) ITALIAN TWIN – returns to the races off a 334-day layoff for Bill Martin, who wins 16% in this spot. She drops way down in class and draws the rail with Huber Villa-Gomez, who is 2-for-3 riding for Martin this meet.

3^rd: (2) PRETTY FLATTERING – just missed in her Tapeta debut here two starts back then raced wide last out against these.

 

Race Four:

1^st: (6) STARSHIP EMPIRE – horse for the course finished up last season with three wins in a row — the last two against this claiming level. He returned with an even effort last out for Scooter Davis, who wins 25% with his synthetic-track starters.

2^nd: (1) PEMAQUID PETE – began the year off a layoff and went gate to wire to win by over six lengths as the 8-5 favorite. He tired after pressing a fast pace last out but has enough gate speed to take advantage of post one.

3^rd: (3) J BERESFORD TIPTON – beat open allowance foes two starts back off the layoff then raced evenly in fast time.

 

Race Five:

1^st: (5) MASTEROFTHEHOUNDS – rallied for third in his seasonal debut then came back and won in fast time. After running second as the 17-10 favorite, John Bourke drops him in class. Bourke wins 30% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

2^nd: (7) GREAT BLAKE – came up from Tampa Bay Downs, where he raced evenly on the dirt. In his first start of this season, he showed good speed before weakening then dropped down to this class level and won going away with leading rider Antonio Gallardo.   

3^rd: (4) HENRY’S WORLD – speedball went gate to wire two starts back as the odds-on favorite then weakened last out.

 

Race Six:

1^st: (9) MY LILY MAE – still winless after 13 tries but has three seconds and three thirds in seven starts on Tapeta. Daughter of Sky Mesa just missed here last out going a two-turn mile and now drops back to a sprint with blinkers added.

2^nd: (4) TIME FOR AN ANGEL – was soundly beaten in her first three career starts by over 25 lengths but shipped here with blinkers added and held well after a menacing move in the stretch. John Bourke wins 24% third start off the layoff.

3^rd: (1) DARK DAHLIA – ran well in her career debut then ran poorly her next two starts then ran well here last out.

 

Race Seven:

1^st: (6) YOUMUSTBEA WEASLEY – not a horse for the course with only one win in 18 starts, but he has 11 other placings, and some came against open company. He was a good second here last out as the even-money favorite for Kevin Rice.

2^nd: (3) COLONEL POPPY – improved some when Lasix and blinkers were added four starts back. After running second twice in a row, he beat open company maidens and now tries state-bred allowance foes for Matt Kintz.

3^rd: (2) MORNING MARCH – was an even third at long odds behind the top choice when making his Tapeta debut.

 

Race Eight:

1^st: (7) HONOR LEO JEAN – broke his maiden by over five lengths on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs then improved there two starts later on the turf when blinkers were added. He shows up here as a new gelding for Tim Hamm, who wins 23% with this surface switch.

2^nd: (5) WORLDS ON HIGH – ran well against similar company on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park. After a turf start there in May, he shipped here and missed by a neck as the 13-10 favorite. Kevin Rice wins 18% with his overall claimers.

3^rd: (4) AMERICA’S GUEST – broke his maiden against cheap company then just missed when moved up to this level.