Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Sept. 16, 2024

Dick Powell offers his insights into Monday's card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (5) FAST LEARNER – still a maiden after nine tries, but he has five placings in five starts here. He held on well for third two starts back, then rallied for second after breaking last. Mike Rogers wins 14% with his synthetic-track starters. 

2nd: (3) LAST POST – has had to keep dropping in class to get relief. He missed by a neck two starts back against better, then tired after a half-mile. Tim Hamm wins 33% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

3rd: (7) GLOBAL HYSTERIA – raced evenly against these two starts back, then lost all chance with a poor break. 

Race 2

1st: (5) PROTECTTHEWITNESS – just missed going gate to wire two starts back against this claiming level, then was a good second last out. Ed Rojas wins 27% first start after being beaten as the favorite and with his overall claiming starters. 

2nd: (2) RICHIES NOBLE GIRL – missed by a neck two starts back as the 6-5 favorite against one level better, then raced evenly behind a sluggish pace as the odds-on favorite. Antonio Gallardo rides back. 

3rd: (7) LA PANDA – horse for the course missed by a length two starts back, then raced evenly when moved up off the claim. 

Race 3

1st: (5) MITOLE MAGIC – returns off a 48-day layoff and comes in off a pair of five-furlong breezes here. Daughter of Mitole can work out a stalking trip from the middle with Brooke Bays picking up the mount.  

2nd: (1) PAROLA SICURA – did nothing in her last two starts, but she had a good second in a turf sprint at Laurel in fast time. Daughter of Yoshida broke her maiden in her career debut on the Tapeta back in February at Turfway Park.  

3rd: (2) MOMENTOUS MISS – turf horse has been moving up and down the class ladder and tries Tapeta for the first time. 

Race 4

1st: (6) ORAZIO – chased a slow pace while four-wide two starts back, then came back and was a good second as the 19-10 favorite. Mike Pappada wins 27% first start after being beaten as the favorite, and his last 277 claimers show a flat-bet profit.  

2nd: (3) JO JO HANS – added blinkers three starts back and just missed the first two times he wore them. He was an even second last out as the even-money favorite for Ron Potts, who wins 31% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

3rd: (5) KING NATE – drops down in class off three dull efforts on the turf. 

Race 5

1st: (1) CLEARLY COPPER – took 11 tries to break her maiden, but she came right back and beat winners on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park. If she can run back to that race or even improve on it, she can handle these.  

2nd: (2) CANDY REWARD – broke her maiden by over six lengths with first-time Lasix. She came back with a good second against this allowance level for Tim Girten, who wins 27% third start off the layoff and 35% when Pablo Morales rides for him over the last 60 days. 

3rd: (4) ROZAY SUMMER – broke her maiden here in her Tapeta debut, then raced evenly the next two starts against these. 

Race 6

1st: (6) DIZZY KITTY – broke his maiden easily here back in early July, then came back to run third and second against this conditioned claiming level. Tim Hamm wins 23% with his overall claimers and 20% going long. 

2nd: (3) MAC’S CAT – broke his maiden by over nine lengths as the odds-on favorite in his first try going two turns. He chased the pace in his next two starts, and look for him to get more aggressive handling from Bays.     

3rd: (7) UNCLE CAESAR – did nothing in his first two starts on dirt and turf, but broke his maiden here in his Tapeta debut. 

Race 7

1st: (4) FIREBALL EXPRESS – turf sprinter tries Tapeta for the first time while dropping down some in class. She showed high speed from the 8 hole last out and can run away from these with a similar start. 

2nd: (1) PRISCILLA’S COVE – broke her maiden in her Tapeta debut against low-level maiden claimers. She showed good speed that day and will need to again from post 1. Gallardo rides back. 

3rd: (8) DROWNINGNCHOCOLATE – drops way down in class looking for a second win at the age of five. 

Race 8

1st: (7) SHE’S GOT RHYTHM – improved a lot when stretched out to two turns. She broke her maiden here at decent odds, then missed by a length against better winners. Last out, she dropped down to this claiming level and won in time.  

2nd: (10) WARRIOR BERNICE – broke her maiden on the dirt by a neck, then was up the track against winners. She bounced back to win going two turns by over five lengths for Brandon Kulp, who wins 27% with his overall claimers.  

3rd: (2) UPPITY UP – drops way down in class off two dull tries against better company.