Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, May 15

Dick Powell offers his picks and analysis for the Monday racing card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (5) MONEY AND HONEY – speedball returns off a 418-day layoff for Aldana Spieth, who wins at a 19% rate in this spot. This daughter of Elusive Quality drops down in class and draws well for a pace-prompting trip with jockey Scott Spieth.

2nd: (4) BREEZY CONNECTION – took her nine tries to break her maiden, which she did from far back on a wet track at Mountaineer Park. She drops down in class here and gets jockey Addiel Ayala — 20% with his sprint rides.

3rd: (3) SHEER ALICE – woke up some here at the end of last season when she dropped way down in class.

 

Race 2

1st: (2) KOTYLOS – added blinkers without much impact two starts back and rallied nicely for third last out going six furlongs. Son of Kantharos is bred to be much faster than he has shown, so we’ll see if Antonio Gallardo sends him.

2nd: (4) JOSH’S HONOR – was a good second here as the beaten 7-5 favorite when making his Tapeta debut and then led to the deep stretch last out. A series of fast workouts indicate that he’s ready off the layoff.

3rd: (1) LUMI – hung on better last out going five furlongs. She will be used hard from post one.

 

Race 3

1st: (4) EXTRA MEDIUM – returns off the long layoff as trainer Mike Rogers decides to waive the claiming tag here. He just missed as the even-money favorite two starts back and then won last out in decent time with Ayala aboard.

2nd: (5) SPICY SHOT – has little early speed but a big middle move and stretch kick. He also waives the claiming tag for trainer Scooter Dickey, who wins at a 21% rate off the long layoff. Dickey's last 88 synthetic-track starters show a flat-bet profit.

3rd: (2) FOX ROX – horse for the course returns at the age of 12 and drops to the bottom here.

 

Race 4

1st: (5) SAMURAI LEGACY – horse for the course beat this claiming level three starts back and then raced evenly going five furlongs. He battled for the lead last out behind two next-out winners and shows a bullet half-mile workout last week.

2nd: (2) MILITARY DRILL– has been competing against better on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park this year and now switches to trainer Adam Rice. He had a fast win here last year going six furlongs and gets jockey Gaddiel Martinez back aboard.

3rd: (6) HEATHER’S GOLD – drops down in class off two even efforts on the turf at Laurel last year.

 

Race 5

1st: (6) ZIP CODE ENVY – began this year with two even efforts on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs when Lasix was added for the first time. Trainer Tim Hamm wins at a 22% rate with this surface switch and gets jockey Pablo Morales again.

2nd: (5) RUSTY MY BROTHER – didn’t run bad in her well-bet career debut on the dirt at Penn National after breaking poorly and could be part of this if she has the normal improvement second time out.

3rd: (2) LT. LYDIA – added blinkers last out and showed high speed for a half-mile here last July.

 

Race 6

1st: (6) ENJOY THE MUSIC – romped by eight lengths two starts back on the Tapeta at Turfway Park and then was an even fourth going two turns when he drew post 12. Trainer Larry Rivelli wins at a 35% rate with his overall synthetic-track starters.

2nd: (4) GRAINGER COUNTY – has won on Tapeta before at Gulfstream Park and shows up here off a close second on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs. He moves up some off the claim and should work out a trip from here.

3rd: (8) LONTANI – went gate-to-wire to win by 14 lengths on the dirt in Ohio and then tired there last out against cheaper horses.

 

Race 7

1st: (5) GET EVEN – speedball went gate-to-wire two starts back on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs and then came back and did it again going five furlongs on the dirt in an off-the-turf event. Jockey Lisa Allen rides back.

2nd: (4) DAWGMENTALITY – broke his maiden here last year going this distance. Son of Smarty Jones had two even efforts on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs this year to prep for this. Trainer Ron Potts wins at a 22% rate second start with Lasix.

3rd: (2) GENERAL WINSTON – did nothing in his dirt debut two starts back and then rallied last out back on Tapeta here last year.

 

Race 8

1st: (2) CATCH ON EMOTIONAL – returned off a 16-month layoff with an easy win two starts back on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs and then came back there and battled for the lead to the deep stretch last out there.

2nd: (6) CAMINO DE SANTIAGO – ran well here last season against stakes company on turf and Tapeta. He did nothing when Lasix was added two starts back, but improved some going seven furlongs on dirt at Tampa Bay Downs.

3rd: (8) NORTHERN SPY – returned off a 14-month layoff two starts back on the dirt at Penn National and then just missed there last out.