Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, July 29, 2024

Dick Powell analyzes Monday’s Presque Isle Downs card and offers his selections.

Race One

1st: (3) VINOS ANGEL – raced evenly to begin this season on the dirt against allowance foes, then came here and beat similar company at this distance. Bill Morey wins 25% first start after a win and 27% with his overall claimers. 

2nd: (6) MILLE DREAMS – turf runner made her Tapeta debut here two starts back and was a good second, then came back and did it again. Matt Kintz wins 21% third start off the layoff, and she gets in light again with Brooke Bays.   

3rd: (4) REAL GOOD BYBZ – both of her career wins came here, but they came sprinting. 

Race Two

1st: (4) LADY FREE WILL – after three poor starts on the dirt at Charles Town, she won her PID debut here going two turns against modest maiden claimers. Jay Bernardini wins 13% first start after a maiden win and 18% with his overall claimers. 

2nd: (3) METANOIA – took her 10 starts to break her maiden, but it was her second start on the Tapeta. and we have often seen perennial maidens run well first start against winners. Pablo Morales rides back. 

3rd: (6) GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME – drops down in class for Mike Pappada, who wins 20% with this move and 36% with Erin Walker. 

Race Three

1st: (1) LOVE RESTRAINED – did nothing in her career debut on the turf, but shipped here and just missed off the long layoff. Daughter of Into Mischief raced evenly last out, but has to keep up early from post 1. 

2nd: (5) LENA KAHLENA – first-time starter from Randy Russell who wins 9% with his debut runners. Daughter of super-fast Disco Partner is firing bullets here, including two works from the gate. Brooke Bays rides. 

3rd: (7) SMARTY PANTS – still a maiden after nine tries, but her two starts on Tapeta put her in the mix here. 

Race Four

1st: (6) UNRAPTURED – synthetic-track specialist was a good second in his PID debut going six furlongs in crazy-fast time. He draws outside for another stalking trip with Morales. Son of Uncaptured ran great on the Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields last year.  

2nd: (2) DR. STEVE – speedy gelding ran well on the dirt at Penn National, then came back here and tired in the final furlong going two turns. Flint Stites wins 16% second start off the layoff. Jomar Torres wins 21% aboard sprinters. 

3rd: (4) GOOSE HUNTER – horse for the course has won five times and was a good second last out against this class level. 

Race Five

1st: (3) WILD DELIGHT – was an even third two starts back against this level, then ran off going two turns before being run down by a head. She returns at six furlongs for Mike Rogers, and regular rider Martina Rojas will probably rate her better today. 

2nd: (2) STACY ATTACK – should be fit and ready off three decent turf races at Mountaineer Park. She has won on Tapeta at Turfway Park and will be right up near the pace with Antonio Gallardo. 

3rd: (6) TRIPLE R RATED – horse for the course romped last out against this class level and meets them again. 

Race Six

1st: (4) HECTOR – could not keep up two starts back here against stakes foes, then came back and missed by a head against open allowance foes. Now, he meets state-breds for Ron Potts, who wins 24% with his allowance runners.  

2nd: (6) MISTER B – was soundly beaten in his first two career starts, then broke his maiden when Lasix was added. He tired badly last out and now tries Tapeta for Mike Maker, who wins 16% with this surface switch. 

3rd: (3) REELED IN – has run well against this state-bred group and tries then again with Gallardo. 

Race Seven

1st: (8) ON THE SHORTLIST – has won five times on the turf in eight starts and now tries Tapeta for the first time. She has strong early speed and should be fit from her recent efforts. Erin McClellan wins 19% first start after a win. 

2nd: (9) IN A SPIN – I love Hard Spun as a sire since his offspring can run at any distance over any surface. She makes her third start of the year for Michael Matz, who wins 10% at this stakes level, and Jorge Ruiz is in for the ride. 

3rd: (1) ANOINT – horse for the course ran well here last year against open company, then just missed on the turf. 

Race Eight

1st: (2) FAST LEARNER – was a good second two starts back against cheaper, then weakened late against these after making a strong middle move. Rogers wins 15% with his synthetic-track starters, and Rojas returns. 

2nd: (6) EXCLUSIVE ENTRY – speedball just missed hanging on two starts back, then tired last out here as the 9-5 favorite. He has a ton of early speed and the right rider in Addiel Ayala, who wins 15% with his sprint rides. 

3rd: (7) LAST POST – did nothing in his first five career starts, then woke up here last out when dropped down to this maiden level.