Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Oct. 7, 2024

Dick Powell analyzes Monday's card at Presque Isle Downs and offers his selections.

Race 1

1st: (5) MAGIC LIFE – woke up two starts back with a sharp win in fast time, then was an even third after being bottled up down on the inside from post 1. She draws much better today with Gaddiel Martinez back aboard. 

2nd: (6) RAISE YOUR GAME – has found a home here with a debut win and two close seconds. Her post should enable her to stalk the pace while clear. Tim Girten wins 39% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

3rd: (3) MARZ EXPRESS – dropped down to this class level and won by a head, then chased the pace in a turf sprint. 

Race 2

1st: (4) TAPSOLUTION – beat this claiming level three starts back in a long sprint, then just missed when moved up to allowance company. He held on for second last out in fast time and drops back down to the level he beat by three lengths. 

2nd: (5) RICHIESINTHEHOUSE – horse for the course beat better two starts back, then weakened last out in that same $8,500 claiming company. He beat this $5,000 claiming level the only time he faced them. Erin Walker rides back.  

3rd: (1) RESIST THE DEVIL – horse for the course has won five of his last seven starts here this year. 

Race 3

1st: (5) DANCING ON AIR – ran well against open company maidens, then held well for second against this group. He stretches out to six furlongs and picks up Antonio Gallardo – 23% with his sprint rides. 

2nd: (6) DRUNKLE – has had four starts here, and his best was two starts back when second behind a next-out winner. He tired last out, but that might have been caused by a fast half-mile workout the week before.  

3rd: (3) BOUJIE BETZ – woke up two starts back with a good second, then tired last out.

Race 4

1st: (2) JOYS OF SUMMER – weakened late in her career debut, then was a game second from the rail going this distance. Ed Rojas picks up the horse, and he goes with Gallardo – 5-for-9 together.  

2nd: (4) COURAGEOUS ARI – still a maiden after six tries but since adding blinkers, she missed by a head, then showed good speed to the final yards. Carol Skawinski wins 13% with her synthetic-track starters, and they show a flat-bet profit.  

3rd: (6) STREET WISH – first-time starter from Tim Hamm, who wins 13% with his debut runners. 

Race 5

1st: (3) RIGHT NOW – after running a series of good races, she gets a much-needed class drop. She just missed two starts back, then was an even fourth. Girten wins 20% going long and 29% with Gallardo.   

2nd: (6) SINGLE LADY – has never won here in seven tries, but most came against tougher company. She was an even fifth in a long sprint two starts back, then ran well in a two-turn turf start at Colonial Downs. 

3rd: (2) RUSTY MY BROTHER – after prepping in a turf sprint stakes race at Penn, she came back here to win going two turns.  

Race 6

1st: (5) SPEIGHT THE SNOW – broke his maiden second time out here, then came back and was a good second at long odds in a stakes race. Ron Potts wins 25% with his allowance runners and 20% with his two-year-olds. 

2nd: (7) MR. SQUEAKY WHEELS – broke his maiden in his well-bet career debut, then was out of the money in his next two starts on dirt. He rallied nicely for third last out as the even-money favorite for Kevin Rice. 

3rd: (2) RIDGE WARRIOR – won easily in his career debut here last month for Girten, who wins 33% after a maiden win. 

Race 7

1st: (9) SIGN OF PEACE – ran well at Colonial Downs on yielding turf two starts back, then came back here and just missed against optional claimers. Brendan Walsh wins 13% with his synthetic-track starters, and she has trained well on the Tapeta at Turfway Park.  

2nd: (1) CALLIE’S GRIT – speedball went gate to wire on the turf at Ellis Park two starts back, then just missed hanging on there. She makes her synthetic-track debut for Joe Sharp, who wins 22% with this surface switch.   

3rd: (3) CANDY REWARD – improving three-year-old woke up when Lasix was added three starts back but does not get it today. 

Race 8

1st: (2) BEAR CREEK – was a game second two starts back here in a long sprint, but raced evenly last out in fast time. Now he drops down to bottom claimers for Mark Hoffman, who wins 17% with his synthetic-track starters. 

2nd: (4) LITTLE BIG – speedy gelding held well two starts back, then just missed going gate to wire. He drops down a notch in class and draws well for Kim Schneider. Victor Severino rides back. 

3rd: (1) KEYSTONE HANK – drops down a notch in class off two decent starts here for Justin Morrell, who wins 12% with his claimers.