Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Sept. 30, 2024

Dick Powell handicaps Monday’s eight-race program at Presque Isle Downs. 

Race 1

1st: (1) VERBAL GEYSER – broke her maiden here in her PID debut, then came back and won again going two turns. She tired some last out and now turns back to a sprint for Ron Potts, who wins 19% with this move. 

2nd: (3) EASY SEVEN – did nothing in her first two career starts, but broke her maiden when dropped down in class. She came back to beat similar last out for Tim Girten, who wins 22% first start after a win. 

3rd: (2) CARLOTUK – ran poorly two starts back against better, but was a good second against these last out. 

Race 2

1st: (6) EMMA AT THE GATE – speedball was used hard from post 1 last out and now drops way down in class for Girten, who wins 40% first start after being beaten as the favorite. 

2nd: (7) LAST POST – ran poorly at 8-5 two starts back, then dropped down to this maiden claiming level and was an even third as the 11-10 favorite. He can work out a stalking trip with Pablo Morales, who's 21% riding for Tim Hamm over the last 60 days. 

3rd: (2) GOLD FRANC – showed good speed in his first start off the claim going two turns, then raced evenly again. 

Race 3

1st: (5) WILD DELIGHT – horse for the course opened up a gigantic lead before weakening two starts back here going two turns, then missed by a neck going 6 1/2 furlongs last out. Victor Severino will apply patient riding tactics again today.  

2nd: (4) QUEEN WIGGY – went gate to wire three starts back against this claiming level, then weakened in her last two starts when moved up in class. Girten wins 21% with his synthetic-track starters and 36% with Morales over the last 60 days. 

3rd: (6) FLOAT AWAY – beat bottom claimers by six lengths, then came back two starts later and won going two turns. 

Race 4

1st: (6) TARSUS WARRIOR – Held well to be second in his well-bet career debut, then came back and broke his maiden by seven lengths at 1-10 odds. He should have no trouble moving up to allowance foes for Girten, who wins 31% first start after a maiden win.

2nd: (7) HECTOR – beat open company allowance foes two starts back here in a long sprint, then missed by a length as the odds-on favorite against these. Potts wins 30% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

3rd: (2) ROBO WARRIOR – horse for the course moves up in class off three straight wins for Ed Rojas. 

Race 5

1st: (4) TAP THE SKY – speedy three-year-old dropped down to this claiming level last out and almost held on going this distance. He draws well for Teresa Connelly, who wins 15% with her route starters. 

2nd: (5) WHY NOT ME – broke his maiden on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs back in April, then shipped here and went gate to wire to win easy.  He moves up a notch in class for Hamm, who shows a flat-bet profit off medium rest. 

3rd: (1) MARINARA SAUCED – one-dimensional closer won going away last out in good time. 

Race 6

1st: (4) SHE’S GOT RHYTHM – dropped down to this claiming level and got up in time as the 1.7-1 favorite. She came back and raced evenly and comes right back on short rest for Randy Russell, who is 4-for-9 with Brooke Bays over the last 60 days.  

2nd: (2) OMIKAMI – raced evenly two starts back here against similar, then came back and won going away after falling 11 lengths behind. Rojas wins 28% first start after a win and 27% with his overall claimers. 

3rd: (5) PATH TO VICTORY – won going away at 9-1 two starts back against much better company. 

Race 7

1st: (4) HE’S A MESS – horse for the course has a big, late kick when he’s right. Was only beaten five lengths 10 days ago in the Presque Isle Mile in very fast time and gets much needed class relief here. 

2nd: (8) POSSIBLEMENTE – ran well here last year in his lone PID start and comes in off a pair of strong turf efforts. Darien Rodriguez wins 17% with his allowance runners and 38% with his synthetic-track starters. 

3rd: (1) SEVEN BRIDGES ROAD – one-dimensional closer makes his PID debut off a series of turf races at Colonial Downs.  

Race 8

1st: (10) AULT – horse for the course has run third here in three starts this year for Bill Martin, who wins 13% second start off the layoff. The 12-year-old son of English Channel should be fit from his last start. 

2nd: (1) JO JO HANS – improved a lot when blinkers were added four starts back here. He was second two starts in a row, then faded last out after pressing a decent pace. Huber Villa-Gomez should be able get a ground-saving trip from the rail. 

3rd: (2) PATRIOT DRIVE – horse for the course was an even third against many of these last out.