Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Oct. 9, 2023

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

Race One:

1st: (2) ZAMBONI WARRIOR – raced evenly on the dirt at Penn National going six furlongs in good time in his well-bet career debut. Son of Warrior’s Reward can handle these if he can handle Tapeta. Pablo Morales gets the ride – 27% with his sprint rides. 

2nd: (4) JUANSEN – showed good speed in his career debut going two turns here against open company, then raced better last out going this distance against this maiden level. Erin Walker will try to get him involved early.    

3rd: (3) CHANGE THE HOUR – still a maiden after 11 tries, but he woke up last out with a close second against these. 

Race Two:

1st: (4) BIG CHICKEN MAN – horse for the course showed good speed two starts back before getting run down, then ran about the same race last out going 5 1/2 furlongs. Randy Russell wins 14% with his overall claimers. 

2nd: (6) BEAR CREEK – has 17 placings here in 34 starts. He has yet to win this year but has five seconds; the first four came against much better. He draws much better than the rail last out when he was shuffled back. 

3rd: (7) UNBRIDLEDSELECTION – made his Tapeta debut here last out against this level and had the lead in deep stretch. 

Race Three:

1st: (2) VALIANT VICTORIA – broke her maiden here by seven lengths, then she came back with a good second in fast time. She moved up in class last out and now drops way down. Gary Wales rides back for John Fennessy – 26% together. 

2nd: (3) TEAM FEISTY – raced on the dirt in her first five career starts against maiden special weight company. She broke her maiden in a turf sprint last out when dropped down in class and makes her Tapeta debut.  

3rd: (1) BEAST BUNNY – took her seven tries to break her maiden, then came back with two thirds against this group. 

Race Four:

1st: (5) BOOMIN GOOSE – horse for the course raced on turf two starts in a row, then was outrun from post 1 against better last out. He has won 12 times here for Katy Cheeks and gets Pablo Morales for the first time.  

2nd: (6) FUEL THE BERN – beat this claiming level two races in a row going two turns, then tired last out when he went too fast too early. Now, he drops down in class and distance for Cassondra Weaver – 6-for-11 second start out of this barn. 

3rd: (1) LEBASI – beat this claiming level two starts back, then missed by a nose going this distance. 

Race Five:

1st: (3) ANIPPE – broke her maiden by a head, but then came back to win the next two by clear margins. She tired last out in her first start off the claim by Dave Markgraf, who wins 15% in this spot. Ron Allen Jr. rides back. 

2nd: (2) FOLK HERO – has a decent record against this claiming level. She dropped down to the bottom last out and won easily in decent time. She moves up in class off the claim by Alejandro Gomez, who wins 10% in this spot and goes with Wales. 

3rd: (6) MERINO WOOL – horse for the course won easily two starts back, then raced evenly when moved up in class. 

Race Six:

1st: (6) SPINNING MUSICIAN – woke up two starts back winning by six lengths as the odds-on favorite going two turns on the dirt at Penn National. Son of Hard Spun came back there with a distant second and now tries Tapeta in his first start off the claim. 

2nd: (2) GIACOMETTI – horse for the course speedball won by eight lengths in his first start off the claim. He was moved too high in class next out, but dropped back down to this level last out and won easily. 

3rd: (7) GOLDEN SODA – was no match two starts back here, then was an improved third last out. 

Race Seven:

1st: (6) HEY PADRE – was claimed for $13,500 in his first start of the year, then did nothing against this allowance level. He just missed next out in a wide trip from post 9, then was an even second in fast time going nine furlongs.  

2nd: (8) CONDITION ONE – makes his Tapeta debut off a trio of turf races at Penn National this summer. Flint Stites wins 19% with this surface switch, and he goes with Angel Stanley – flat-bet profit with his route mounts.  

3rd: (3) GREG’S HONOR – ran poorly on the dirt two starts back, but then just missed here going 1 1/4 miles. 

Race Eight:

1st: (1) TIZ TACT TOE – one-dimensional closer draws the rail and drops way down in class. He missed by a head in a wide trip in his first start against this conditioned claiming level and gets Morales. 

2nd: (8) DAD’S LIL SPARK – broke his maiden here going two turns, then did little against better winners. He dropped down to this claiming level and went gate to wire to win by over four lengths for Kevin Rice. 

3rd: (7) DREAM ASTRAY – won two races in a row on the turf, then was beaten 32 lengths in his last two starts.