Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Oct. 2, 2023

Dick Powell handicaps the Monday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race One:

1st: (4) WINE WITH A ROSE – took her 12 starts to break her maiden here as the odds-on favorite. She raced without impact in her next two starts, then was a good second here last out for Maria Bowersock, who wins 13% going long.    

2nd: (1) UPPITY UP – improved some three starts back going two turns in rather slow time, then came back and raced evenly her next two starts. Daughter of English Channel draws the rail and gets Huber Villa-Gomez – 20% riding for Ron Potts. 

3rd: (2) EMALTHA – went gate to wire two starts back here in her two-turn debut and could be loose on the lead here. 

Race Two:

1st: (4) EVERY LITTLE BIT – horse for the course missed by a neck in her second start of the season, then ran poorly when moved up in class. She showed good speed last out as the odds-on favorite when dropped down in class. 

2nd: (6) ODD GAL – has been stuck at this class level all year but doesn’t have to improve much to have a shot with these. She pressed the pace from an inside post last out and should get a better trip from here. 

3rd: (7) AMAZON LIZZIE – suddenly woke up last out when a good second going this distance in fast time. 

Race Three:

1st: (5) JOYFUL GHOST – did nothing in his first two career starts but woke up here off the long layoff and Lasix added. He broke his maiden second time out then just missed in his first start off the claim by Rory Barron.    

2nd: (4) LUNA WARRIOR – turf sprinter ran well after blinkers were added. He was claimed for $35K two starts back at Saratoga and shipped here to almost overcome a poor break. Jack Sisterson wins 26% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

3rd: (2) TWELVETWO – broke his maiden in his eighth try, then only missed by a length behind the top choice last out. 

Race Four:

1st: (1) WHAT’S UP BRO – makes his Tapeta debut after running evenly going seven furlongs on the turf at Belmont, then doing nothing on the dirt at Saratoga. Son of Dialed In draws the rail for Larry Rivelli, who wins 34% second start off the layoff. 

2nd: (3) WARRIOR’S CAUSE – broke his maiden here going six furlongs in fast time, then tired next out when stretched out to two turns. He won a turf sprint two starts back at Penn National, then tired there on the turf again.    

3rd: (7) HAMMER LANE – has had many chances but can get a piece of this with a well-timed move from Willie Martinez. 

Race Five:

1st: (8) REIGERT GIRLS – first-time starter from Tim Girten, who wins 21% with his debut runners. Daughter of Warrior’s Reward (12% debut winners) is out of a winning dam by Into Mischief (16% debut winners) and gets Pablo Morales. 

2nd: (3) ROCK N REWARD – just missed in her well-bet career debut for Girten, who wins 12% with his second-time starters and 21% against maiden special weight company. She draws well and gets Antonio Gallardo back aboard. 

3rd: (2) MOM’S OPAL – first-time starter from Mike Trombetta has been training on the dirt at Fair Hill but not the Tapeta. 

Race Six:

1st: (4) R ADMIRAL – took him 14 starts to break his maiden at odds-on when he went gate to wire for an easy win. He came back against similar last out and held on for second. John Fennessy’s barn has been hot lately and gets Mike Allen back. 

2nd: (5) ALEMAN – rallied wide to get second in his career debut, then came right back to win as the odds-on favorite. Now with Ed Rojas, he drops down to $30K claimers and gets in light with Martina – 33% with Ed. 

3rd: (6) INAPPROPRIATE – improved a lot two starts back, then was a good third when he raced closer to the pace. 

Race Seven:

1st: (8) BRADITUDE – rallied from far back to win going away after being shuffled back from post 1. He raced evenly in a very fast six-furlong sprint last out against this allowance level and gets in light again with Martina Rojas. 

2nd: (1) GET EVEN – has never won here in seven tries, but they all came against this allowance level, and most were going two turns. A long sprint might be just what he needs, and he has enough pace to keep up early from post 1. 

3rd: (2) BEACH HOLIDAY – one-dimensional closer rallied from far back to get up by a head two starts back. 

Race Eight:

1st: (6) LIFE MISSION – beat bottom claimers by three easy lengths, then moved up to this level and was a good second after pressing the pace. Leland Hayes wins 16% on synthetic tracks and is 3-for-4 when riding Morales. 

2nd: (9) SOUPER ROYAL MOON – beat better in an off-the-turf event at Monmouth Park, then came back there and held on for second on a sloppy track. Son of Malibu Moon makes his Tapeta debut off the claim by Elisha Perez. 

3rd: (8) J W RUCKUS – drops down a notch in class off two decent turf efforts at Belterra.