Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023

Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for the Wednesday, Oct. 25 card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race One:

1st: (1) PROTECTTHEWITNESS – horse for the course tired two starts back against open allowance foes and then dropped down to this claiming price and won at even money. Ed Rojas wins 31% first start after a win and 28% with Martina.

2nd: (4) LUNAR ICE – one-dimensional closer got up for second two starts back, but then fell way behind last out and could only get third. She drops way down in class for Tim Girten, who wins 20% with his synthetic-track starters.

3rd: (5) ANIIPPE – horse for the course went gate to wire two starts off the claim by Dave Markgraf.

Race Two:

1st: (6) EVERY LITTLE BIT – speedball dropped to the bottom but was beaten four lengths. She came back here and won by five lengths as the odds-on favorite and moves up a notch in class for new trainer Joe Cheeks.

2nd: (5) QUEEN OF CHILL – beat $25K claimers here back in May and then was a good second against optional claimers. She took a three-month break with a good third and now drops down in class for Tim Girten.

3rd: (3) CINCO DE MANDEE – beat this claiming level three starts back here and then raced evenly in her last two starts.

Race Three:

1st: (6) BANG A RANG – showed good speed from post eight in his career debut here. He comes back 13 days later for Tim Hamm, who wins 13% with his second-time starters and gets Pablo Morales.

2nd: (7) REACTIVE – turns back to a sprint off a close second here against males. This daughter of Ghostzapper has had two easy breezes on the Tapeta at Turfway Park for Eoin Harty, who wins 17% turning back to a sprint. 

3rd: (3) INSTINCTUAL – flashed brief speed on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park and then raced evenly here going two turns.

Race Four:

1st: (9) LADY YELLEN – not a horse for the course but all seven of her starts here this season were solid and came against much better company. The daughter of Central Banker turns back to a sprint while adding blinkers for the first time.

2nd: (5) ELIA – dropped down to this claiming level two starts back and won easily at 1-2 odds. She just missed going gate to wire last out and should be able to boss this group around for Gaddiel Martinez – 18% with his sprint rides.

3rd: (7) AMAZON LIZZIE – horse for the course raced wide before tiring last out against this class level.

Race Five:

1st: (9) BIG CHICKEN MAN – horse for the course showed outrageous speed two starts back here before tiring. Last out, he gunned to the front and held on for second for Randy Russell, who wins 14% with his overall claimers.

2nd: (6) COMMODORE BARRY – drops down to the bottom level off a series of even, non-threatening efforts. His best start might have been his last when he missed by a length and should be a stretch factor with Pablo Morales.

3rd: (2) FEVOLA – missed by a length last out when he rallied behind a soft pace.

Race Six:

1st: (4) CANDY REWARD – rallied from off the pace to just miss against stakes foes in her well-bet career debut. This daughter of Warrior’s Reward draws better and should be tough if she improves in her second start in just over a week.

2nd: (5) MOM’S OPAL – missed by a neck in her career debut when she got away slowly from an inside post. Now she faces open maidens for Mike Trombetta, who wins 13% with his second-time starters and 20% on synthetic tracks.

3rd: (8) DONATE LIFE – just missed in her career debut and then was outrun against stakes foes.

Race Seven:

1st: (7) SHY DA RUNNER – speedball went gate to wire two starts back in fast time and then was a good second last out when he set a fast pace. Tim Girten wins 38% first start after being beaten as the favorite and Antonio Gallardo rides back.

2nd: (4) CANTSTEALMYTHUNDER – broke his maiden in his third career start and then came right back and won again. After failing against stakes foes, he came back and tired going two turns. Jose Ortiz is in for the mount.

3rd: (2) MY ROMEO LIMA – woke up with a good third on the dirt at Delaware Park 12 days ago.

Race Eight:

1st: (5) MESSIDOR – switches to Tapeta off some solid efforts on turf in New York for Christophe Clement. She has some back class on synthetic tracks and draws well with Dylan Davis – 24% riding for Clement.

2nd: (10) CANDY LIGHT – won a stakes race on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park at the end of last year. She could not overcome a speed bias in a $500K stakes race at Kentucky Downs for Graham Motion, who wins 23% with this surface change.

3rd: (7) DANA’S BEAUTY – moves up in class off the claim by Kevin Rice, who wins 33% with this move. Jose Ortiz rides.

Race Nine:

1st: (11) INAPPROPRIATE – has yet to win here in five tries but drops way down in class. If he can regain the form he had here this summer, the class dropdown should be enough but he still has to overcome post 11.

2nd: (8) UP FOR THE CHANCE – winless in 13 tries here but he has just enough gate speed to be dangerous. He opened up a clear lead two races in a row and then raced more evenly last out. Gary Wales rides back – 22% riding for John Fennessy.

3rd: (2) YARDMAN – fits well with these from an inside post against a class level that he missed by a length last out.