Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Oct. 14, 2024

Dick Powell handicaps the holiday Monday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (3) ELUSIVE CHANGE – has improved in his recent starts here. A tiring fourth two starts back, he then tried to go gate to wire and missed by a neck. He meets the same group again for Randy Russell, who wins 28% with Gaddiel Martinez. 

2nd: (8) LAST POST – has had some close calls and was the beaten favorite two starts in a row. He tired some last out when he chased the pace and comes right back for Tim Hamm, who wins 20% with his synthetic-track starters.     

3rd: (7) TRUE ACCOUNT – still a maiden after 10 tries, but he improved a lot here in his Tapeta debut against better company. 

Race 2

1st: (4) FLOAT AWAY – horse for the course beat this claiming level by six lengths. She came back to win going a two-turn mile here, then rallied to win going away against better. John Bourke wins 31% first start after a win. 

2nd: (1) WATERLOO SUNSET – was beaten by 5 1/2 lengths two starts back at 13-1, then came back against the same group and went gate to wire at 2-1. Victor Severino rides back, and they draw the rail. 

3rd: (6) FOREVER UNCAPTURED – tired in her PID debut, then won against better claiming company for Maria Bowersock. 

Race 3

1st: (4) HARBOUR BRIDGE – raced evenly two starts back against maiden claimers, then moved up in class and was a good second going six furlongs. He moves back up in distance for Krista Hetrick, who is able to get Antonio Gallardo to ride back.

2nd: (8) TIZ WICKED STRONG – raced evenly in two starts on the turf at Saratoga, then shipped here and was a good second as the 3-10 favorite. Phil Antonacci wins 12% at this maiden level and gets Reylu Gutierrez back aboard.  

3rd: (6) PARTY AT THE BEACH – held well for second against this class and distance two starts back, then tired again last out. 

Race 4

1st: (8) CHANGE THE HOUR – only has one win in 20 starts, but every one of them came against better company. He just missed two starts back, then came back on the rail and ran the same race. Russell wins 18% with this dropdown.     

2nd: (5) SANDRONE – has had three turf starts at three different tracks this year and now tries PID while dropping way down in class. He does show good gate speed, so Gallardo will have to get him involved early. 

3rd: (3) GO GET THE BAG – dirt sprinter from Finger Lakes makes his Tapeta debut and gets Pablo Morales for it.  

Race 5

1st: (2) DIXIELAND BELLE – first-time starter from Mike Trombetta, who wins 8% with his debut runners and 18% with his synthetic-track starters. Daughter of More Than Ready (12% debut winners) is out of a stakes winner. 

2nd: (5) MORRIGANA – showed good speed before weakening in her well-bet career debut and now takes on state-bred stakes foes. Daughter of Warrior’s Reward is out of a dam by Ghostzapper, who has already produced a stakes winner. 

3rd: (1) NIGHT NURSE – broke her maiden by four lengths in her well-bet career debut on dirt. 

Race 6

1st: (5) INDIAN SPIDEROO – showed good speed and finished second two starts in a row, then went gate to wire last out here as the 2-5 favorite. Matt Kintz wins 20% first start after a win and 14% with his claiming starters. 

2nd: (9) SHE’S GOT RHYTHM – the 17-10 favorite in her past two starts here, she was fourth two starts back, then came back against the same group and ran about the same race in third. Russell wins 28% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

3rd: (4) LA CREMA – one-dimensional closer overcame post 11 two starts back, then her wide rally fell short in fourth last out. 

Race 7

1st: (3) HE’S A MESS – finally gets some class relief as he has been all over the class ladder. He was an even third as the 9-5 favorite in his latest and drops down for Teresa Connelly, who wins 40% first start after being beaten as the favorite.     

2nd: (6) VALENTINE BUG – horse for the course got up to beat these going two turns, then he came back with an even fourth going six furlongs in fast time. Erik Barbaran wins 19% with his route rides, and his last 128 show a flat-bet profit. 

3rd: (7) A WESTERN YARN – made his Tapeta debut here two starts back with a good second in fast time. 

Race 8

1st: (8) GENERAL WINSTON – raced evenly two starts back here against better, then dropped down and beat this level as the 2-5 favorite. Kintz wins 20% first start after a win, and Scott Spieth rides back from a wide draw. 

2nd: (1) LESLIE CHOW – won his first two PID starts early this year, then finished off the board in his next two against allowance foes. He dropped down in class last out and missed by a neck from post 8 and now meets the same group from post 1.  

3rd: (5) CITY PLAN – ships in from Mountaineer Park off mostly turf races for Jeff Zook, who wins 11% with his claimers.