Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, July 17, 2023

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

 

Race One:

1^st: (2) RECKLESS AFFAIR – woke up two starts back in his Tapeta debut and held well for second behind a next-out winner as the even-money favorite. He came back and broke his maiden next out when he settled better early.

2^nd: (4) HUNTIN’ THE RUT – only 1-for-20 here, but he finished up last season against better company. He made his seasonal debut here against this level last out and was an even third going six furlongs. Gets in light with Martina Rojas.

3^rd: (7) UP FOR THE CHANCE – just missed against this level off the long layoff then ran well when moved up in class.

 

Race Two:

1^st: (6) CHARLOTTE THE BRIT – was a sharp winner here off the layoff against this level then came right back and beat the same group. Still not claimed, she came back and rallied for second as the 3-2 favorite and gets in light with Martina Rojas.

2^nd: (1) FOLK HERO – added blinkers and promptly won by seven lengths going two turns. She tired next out when moved up to open allowance foes then came back with a third behind the top choice last out going this distance.

3^rd: (2) LAWN DART – horse for the course won here last out and moved up off the claim by Lance Stokes.

 

Race Three:

1^st: (6) NEVISIAN SPIRIT – horse for the course was a sharp winner off the long layoff then raced evenly in a wide trip when moved up in class. Ron Potts wins 25% first start after being beaten as the favorite and gets Pablo Morales.

2^nd: (5) RICHIES NOBLE GIRL – could not compete two starts back against much better company then came back and won going away. Daughter of Noble Mission takes another drop in class for Ed Rojas, who wins 30% first start after a win.

3^rd: (1) LADY LANA – beat this claiming level by four lengths on the dirt in Arizona and was a good third here last out.

 

Race Four:

1^st: (7) PROTECTTHEWITNESS – has been up and down the class ladder but woke up some last out when stretched out to two turns against state-bred allowance foes. Ed Rojas wins 35% with Martina Rojas.

2^nd: (5) BE SHARP – woke up and broke her maiden when Lasix and blinkers were added on the dirt at Mahoning Valley. She shipped back here last out and led to the top of the stretch and drops in class for Tim Hamm.

3^rd: (2) DOMINANT STRANGER – was a distant second two starts back off the long layoff going short then ran well going long.

 

Race Five:

1^st: (6) MAIDEN LANE – first-time starter from Tim Hamm, who wins 15% with his debut runners and 20% against this maiden level. Daughter of Street Sense is out of a dam by Bernardini, so she has every right to get better going longer.

2^nd: (3) CLOUD IN THE WIND – first-time starter from Tim Girten, who wins 22% with his debut runners and 24% against this maiden level. Her sire Cloud Computing had a strong debut winner at Saratoga the other day.

3^rd: (4) ROTONDO – first-time starter from Tim Hamm. She’s by Outwork (16% debut winners) out of a dam by Violence (18% debut winners) whose other foal to race is a winner. Pablo Morales gets aboard.

 

Race Six:

1^st: (7) STRANGE ARRANGE – speedball went gate to wire two starts back against similar then was a close third in each of his next two starts. Horse for the course has plenty of back class and gets Pablo Morales.

2^nd: (6) CHARMED – held well on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park two starts back then was outrun there in a very fast turf sprint in his first start off the claim. He drops down in class for his Presque Isle debut with Gaddiel Martinez getting the mount.

3^rd: (5) GINS AND TINS – horse for the course raced evenly here in his first two starts off the layoff.

 

Race Seven:

1^st: (4) GOLDEN MOONLIGHT – broke her maiden by 12 lengths two starts back on the dirt at Finger Lakes as the heavy favorite then came back there and beat allowance foes easily. Jim Acquilano wins 17% first start after a win.

2^nd: (6) RUSTY MY BROTHER – won her Presque Isle debut here by a wide margin against open company maidens then beat state-bred allowance foes easily. Tim Girten wins 21% first start after a win and 20% with Antonio Gallardo.

3^rd: (2) CAPTAIN COURTNEY – romped by 18 lengths in her first two starts against state-breds here.

 

Race Eight:

1^st: (8) YOU LOOKING AT ME – dropped down to this maiden claiming level two starts back and just missed going gate to wire. Daughter of Hard Spun tired badly last out but will be the one to catch if she breaks well.

2^nd: (1) PATH TO VICTORY – drops down in class off a dull effort two starts back then put blinkers back on and missed by a head at 24-1. She draws the rail and drops in class for John Fennessy — 21% with this move.

3^rd: (6) GOLDEN PHASE – raced wide going six furlongs in her first start against this maiden claiming level.