Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Sept. 11, 2023

Dick Powell analyzes the Monday, Sept. 11 card at Presque Isle Downs and presents his selections.

Race One:

1st: (3) AMERICA’S GUEST – interesting three-year-old gelding won going six furlongs pretty easily two starts back, then raced well going two turns against open allowance foes. Glenn Wismer wins 21% going long, and the last 71 show a flat-bet profit.  

2nd: (5) WHISKEYMAC – has tried this claiming group going two turns four times in a row and ran well each time. He needs some pace up front with Antonio Gallardo riding back – 19% with his route mounts.

3rd: (2) HE’S A GOOD DANCER – was able to get up in time when stuck behind a glacial pace against this level last out.  

Race Two:

1st: (2) PROPER MANNERS – dropped down to the bottom two starts back and won going away, then just missed last out. Until she gets claimed, Ron Potts will keep running her – 24% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

2nd: (5) SONG OF INDY – horse for the course has 11 wins and nine seconds here over the years. She won going six furlongs two starts back, then rallied wide to get third. Addiel Ayala rides back for Mike Rogers.   

3rd: (6) MONGOLIAN MISSION – daughter of Nobel Mission has found a home here against this claiming level.

Race Three:

1st: (5) SIMPLY STATED – makes her Tapeta debut against modest state-bred company. She won her past three starts and showed good speed each time. Todd Beattie wins 36% first start out of his barn and 17% with his overall allowance starters.  

2nd: (4) RUSTY MY BROTHER – after winning her first two starts on Tapeta here, she held on for third in a very fast state-bred stakes race. Here last two starts were going two turns against open company, and now she drops down in class and distance.   

3rd: (2) SHOSHANAH – beat open allowance foes on the turf at Penn National to begin the season, then was second against these.

Race Four:

1st: (4) CROWLEY’S WAR – was a good second at 7-5 two starts back here, then won easily as the odds-on favorite. Gelded son of War Front drops down to the bottom for Wismer, who wins 22% third start off the layoff.

2nd: (3) BELIEVEINHOLIDAYS – horse for the course showed good speed going two turns in his last two starts and now turns back to a long sprint for Bill Martin, who wins 15% with his overall claimers.

3rd: (2) LEBASI – horse for the course beat similar here last out and gets Ayala back aboard.

Race Five:

1st: (1) MISS GETTY UP – was a good third against better two starts back on the Tapeta at Turfway Park. She returned six months later here and tired after chasing the pace and now drops way down in class for Tim Girten.

2nd: (3) MAGIC LIFE – broke her maiden when Lasix was added and won by over four lengths at odds-on. She was a good second next out then prevailed by a neck last out. Daughter of Klimt drops down in class and adds blinkers for the first time.

3rd: (5) LISA MARIE – dropped down to this claiming level the past two starts, and she was a good second each time.

Race Six:

1st: (1) HAPPYISASHAPPYDOES – was a game second as the 8-5 favorite in his well-bet career debut. He comes back against the same group and gets leading rider Pablo Morales back aboard – 26% with his sprint starters.

2nd: (5) HARBOR MOON – makes his Tapeta debut after running twice on the slop and three times on the turf. He ran well two starts back going two turns at Gulfstream Park and now returns off the long layoff for Mike Trombetta.

3rd: (7) I STRONG – put together three strong sprints in a row, then tired last out going two turns.

Race Seven:

1st: (6) LORI’S EYES – was soundly beaten on the dirt at Prairie Meadows, then shipped here for her Tapeta debut and was a good third against this class level. Bill Martin wins 16% with his overall claimers and 15% on synthetic tracks.  

2nd: (2) SURE ENOUGH – ran well on the Tapeta at Turfway Park this winter but went back to dirt in her last two starts and was outrun. Daughter of Goldencents makes her PID debut for Tom Van Berg, who wins 24% with this surface switch.

3rd: (7) UPTOWN CHARLOTTE – broke her maiden in her seventh try, then came back two starts later and was a good third.

Race Eight:

1st: (5) PATRIOT DRIVE – horse for the course was an even fourth two starts back when dropped in class for new trainer Ed Rojas. He came back with a similar fourth and now drops down to the bottom. Martina Rojas rides back – 43% with Ed.

2nd: (1) LEAVE ‘EM LOADED – could be tough from the rail if he can run on or near the early lead. He’s been third in each start here for Girten, who wins 19% with his route runners and 20% on synthetic tracks.

3rd: (7) CLEMSON TIGER – was a sharp winner here two starts back, then tired last out against these.