Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Oct. 24

Dick Powell offers his picks and analysis for the Monday racing card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race One:

1st: #7 RUBY FOO – The horses that have raced have not been very impressive, but this first-time starter is by More Than Ready (11% debut winners) out of a dam whose only foal to race is a two-year-old stakes winner. Pablo Morales rides for Mike Stidham.

2nd: #5 ZORA – showed some speed going two turns two starts in a row against open company maidens then turned back to this class and distance last out and rallied for third. Tim Girten wins 24% against this maiden level.

3rd: #2 LUNA T – ran well here two starts back then was a good second last out after having traffic from an inside post.

 

Race Two:

1st: #5 HIDDEN RULER – ships in from Prairie Meadows, where he ran races on the dirt that would crush this group. He dropped to this claiming level the last two starts as the beaten favorite and makes his synthetic-track debut for Bill Martin.

2nd: #8 KITCHEN FIRE – horse for the course raced on the Tapeta at Turfway Park over the winter then had three starts on the dirt in Indiana. Last out, he shipped here and just missed going gate to wire after being used hard from post one.

3rd: #1 STEVIS MAN – horse for the course has won 21 times here and is still firing at the age of 12.

 

Race Three:

1st: #3 GIRL AFRAID – gunned to the front two starts in a row going two turns then turned back to this distance and missed going gate to wire by a head. Daughter of Not This Time tries them again for Matt Kintz, who wins 22% against this maiden level.

2nd: #2 HONEY HAULER – turns back to a sprint after racing evenly going two turns here. Daughter of Creative Cause is out of a dam by Distorted Humor that has produced three winners from three other foals to race. Erin Walker is 6-for-13 for Glenn Wismer.

3rd: #4 GRACIE DANCE – raced well in her career debut on the dirt at Thistledown and could improve here.

 

Race Four:

1st: #8 SERENE WARRIOR – was a sharp winner here two starts back going five furlongs when dropped down to bottom claimers then came back against them and missed by a neck after a tardy start. She’s been favored in four of her last five starts.  

2nd: #2 SO MOXIE – had been running against better company this year here but dropped down to this claiming level and won going away at 5 1/2 furlongs. She comes back against the same group going a furlong farther for Carol Skawinski.

3rd: #1 RUNAWAY BREEZE – drops way down in class after beating open allowance foes last out with a wide, stalking trip.

 

Race Five:

1st: #3 SMOKE LIGHTENING – son of Munnings broke his maiden here in his well-bet career debut then went to Woodbine and just missed in a turf sprint stakes race. After failing for big money at Kentucky Downs, he returns here for Ron Potts.

2nd: #6 CAMINO DE SANTIAGO – broke his maiden here second time out here but failed in the same turf sprint stakes race as the top choice. He has run third here in his last two starts for Tim Hamm, who wins 22% with his synthetic-track starters.

3rd: #7 UNCLE JOCK – broke his maiden easily here second time out but has been soundly beaten when moved up in class.

 

Race Six:

1st: #1 MISS CALIFORNIA – ran well here two starts back when she dropped back early and got up for second. She came back to run almost the same race last out and draws the rail for another try. Gaddiel Martinez rides back.

2nd: #4 MOTITO – broke her maiden here going six furlongs three starts back then raced evenly when stretched out to two turns. She raced evenly again last out going six and now drops down to claiming company for the first time.

3rd: #6 BARBARA – is winless here in five tries but just missed two starts back on the dirt at Mountaineer Park.

 

Race Seven:

1st: #7 FLOR DE SOMBRA – won her first two career starts at Parx on the dirt by wide margins. She weakened last out there in a $200K stakes race and now tries Tapeta for Guadalupe Preciado, who wins 35% against this stakes level.

2nd: #5 SCOTTISH SYMPHONY – first-time starter from Mark Casse, who wins 14% with his debut runners. Daughter of Mendelssohn (13% debut winners) is out of a dam by Giant’s Causeway that has produced a stakes winner.

3rd: #8 PACHELBEL – was a sharp winner two starts back then ran second in the 200K stakes race at Parx.

 

Race Eight:

1st: #6 EVERY LITTLE BIT – after two poor races here against better, she romped by four lengths in fast time when dropped some in class. She drops to the bottom here and gets Pablo Morales back aboard — 27% with his sprint rides.

2nd: #10 RUN LAUGHING – after winning three straight starts, she railed as the beaten favorite two starts in a row. She was an even third here last out against this level for Bill Martin, who wins 18% with his claimers and 16% on synthetic tracks.

3rd: #1 ABBEY’S SNOW WHITE – horse for the course has lost her last three starts but draws the rail today.