Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, June 3, 2024

Dick Powell shares his picks for all eight races at Presque Isle Downs on Monday.

Race One

1st: (6) BOTITA – returns off a 481-day layoff for a low-percentage barn but this filly has some pedigree being by Street Boss out of a stakes-winning dam that has produced three winners from three other foals to race. 

2nd: (7) ISOLA – has some big races in the past that could beat these, as well as the benefit from two races this year. She moves up in class off the claim by Ron Potts, who wins 19% with this move and 21% moving up one class level. 

3rd: (1) CHEERFUL TROUT – was soundly beaten in her first five career starts but woke up some here in her Tapeta debut. 

Race Two

1st: (2) KAGERO – took her 12 starts to break her maiden at the age of six, but how many times do you see one of these perennial maidens run well after a win. She makes her second start off the long layoff and gets the red-hot Walber Alencar back aboard.  

2nd: (4) REAL GOOD VYBZ – took her 23 starts to break her maiden, then she came right back with a good second. She was third here in her seasonal debut last out and gets in lighter with Martina Rojas.  

3rd: (7) SAWEETIE GIRL – showed high speed in her first eight starts and tired last out going a two-turn mile on the dirt. 

Race Three

1st: (2) LESLIE CHOW – drops down in class after going gate to wire here last out. He has plenty of back class on the Tapeta at Woodbine last year. Scooter Davis is 3-for-7 dropping down two or more class levels, and Willie Martinez rides back.    

2nd: (3) GRAEL – returns to the races off a long layoff for Katy Cheeks, who enters him without being exposed to the claim. She wins 12% with her overall claiming starters and gets Pablo Morales – 18% with his route mounts.    

3rd: (6) ARAK – could not overcome post 12 two starts back on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park, then tired in deep stretch. 

Race Four

1st: (4) OUTHUSTLE – won his first two career starts here last summer, then was third and fourth against allowance foes. He drops back down in class for Randy Russell, who wins 14% with his claimers and 11% with his synthetic-track starters.    

2nd: (3) REAPPLY – was a good second two starts back at Turfway Park, then shipped here and won going away against similar claimers in his first start for Tim Girten, who wins 25% second start off the layoff. Antonio Gallardo rides back.  

3rd: (2) CERTAIN – broke his maiden in his 10th career start, then came back and won here in good time at odds-on. 

Race Five

1st: (7) DREAMFUL – ran well here last year against allowance company. He was terrible in his return on the dirt at Oaklawn Park and gets back on the Tapeta for Bill Martin, who wins 13% with this surface switch and 14% off long layoffs. 

2nd: (6) AWARD TOUR – just missed first time out going two turns on the turf at Tampa Bay, then broke her maiden here going away in fast time. Potts wins 21% first start after a win and 20% with his synthetic-track starters. 

3rd: (2) MARY KATHERINE – won her lone start on Tapeta last year for Keri Brion, who wins 25% going turf to synthetic. 

Race Six

1st: (5) EPIC – horse for the course was a sharp winner here two years ago, then raced evenly in his lone 2023 start. 10-year-old has run well off layoffs before and gets Morales. 

2nd: (2) RESIST THE DEVIL – has plenty of back class here and now shows up against bottom-level claimers. He showed good speed here last out before weakening and gets in light again with apprentice rider Dereck Lopez. 

3rd: (7) CON ON THE RUN – speedball should benefit from Erin Walker getting aboard – 3-for-10 this year going short. 

Race Seven

1st: (4) RAINING SUGAR – lost all chance when he broke dead last going five furlongs when blinkers were added, then he came back and rallied for third against the prevailing bias at Gulfstream Park. Riley Mott wins 25% with his synthetic-track starters. 

2nd: (9) CHASING SPRING – daughter of Into Mischief broke her maiden here first time out, then raced evenly in a sprint when she made a big middle move against stakes foes. She did nothing off the layoff on dirt and ships back here for Eoin Harty. 

3rd: (2) IMPLOSION – didn’t run badly in her Tapeta debut, then raced evenly on the turf in her last three starts. 

Race Eight

1st: (4) LEONARD’S LEGACY – finished up last year with a sharp gate-to-wire win going six furlongs in fast time. He ran well off a similar layoff last year, and Russell enters him here without being exposed to the claim. 

2nd: (2) BLUEBERRY – was a good third here last year against this claiming level, then raced evenly in very fast time. He tired in his last start going two turns and returns off a 187-day layoff for Krista Hetrick, who is having a terrific year.  

3rd: (8) FLOAT AWAY – horse for the course returned a winner last out off the layoff and stays against similar company.