Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Sept. 15

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

Race One:

1st: #2 UP IN ARMS – broke her maiden in her third career start, then came right back to win again. After tiring when stretched out to two turns, she rallied from far back to beat similar to these when blinkers were added. Tim Hamm wins 23% first start after a win.

2nd: #5 CHEROKEE CHATTER – beat this claiming level here last May, and has raced against better since then. She dropped down some in class last out with an even effort for Cathy Rosantz, who wins 15% with her synthetic-track starters.

3rd: #1 SAILOR’S SALUTE – won here from post 11 going two turns with a long rally, then came back and beat this level next out.

Race Two:

1st: #6 MIDNIGHT CHOIR – tired in her first three career starts on turf against better. She raced well at Woodbine on the Tapeta to finish up last year, then returned 10 months later with a good second going this distance.

2nd: #5 GEORGETOWN ROAD – could not keep up in a turf sprint two starts back at Keeneland in April. She ran much better on sloppy track and makes her Tapeta debut off a 112-day layoff. Tim Hamm wins 18% first start out of his barn.

3rd: #4 FLOAT AWAY – did nothing in her first two career starts here, then woke up in her next two when blinkers were added.

Race Three:

1st: #4 VACCINA – showed good speed in a sprint here before tiring but it must have sharpened her up since she stretched back out to a mile and went gate to wire in good time. Cassandra Judd wins 19% with her synthetic-track starters.

2nd: #2 MOTITO – ran second three times in four routes here. Daughter of the speedy Kantharos dropped back to a sprint and won as the 6-5 favorite. She stretches back out to two turns for Tim Girten who wins 30% with his allowance runners.

3rd: #1 MISS INVINCIBLE – has raced against open company claimers on the turf in New York but was a good second here.

Race Four:

1st: #2 LA PANDA – showed some ability in her career debut, then came back against maiden claimers and was a good second after a rough trip. The daughter of The Big Beat returns against the same group and distance for Carol Skawinski, who wins 16% against these.

2nd: #5 GOSHEN – first-time starter from Mike Stidham who wins 15% with his debut runners and 23% with his overall maiden claimers. The daughter of Classic Empire (11% debut winners) draws in the middle with Ron Allen, Jr.

3rd: #1 PARISIAN SUMMER – had a rough trip from post one last out here in her Tapeta debut and draws the rail again.

Race Five:

1st: #5 GOLOVKIN – missed by a length two starts back here going two turns against this claiming level, then he came back against this class level going a mile and was an even fourth. John Guciardo wins 12% with his route mounts.    

2nd: #4 SUMMER PALACE – dropped down to this class level two starts back and just missed with a strong rally. He was badly outrun against the top choice last out but must have shown something since leading rider Pablo Morales returns.

3rd: #6 SPEED WAY – beat cheaper two starts back going 5 1/2 furlongs then was an even third against these.  

Race Six:

1st: #7 BAD LITTLE BEAST – has won here before on the Tapeta before but has been racing against open allowance foes in Ohio lately. He doesn’t have much gate speed but does his best running in sprints so the outside post should help him be clear.

2nd: #3 ZOOMBIE – was a sharp winner two starts back here pouncing in the deep stretch then made no impression last out. Ryan Walsh wins 11% with his synthetic-track starters & with his overall sprinters. Alice Beckman picks up the mount – 22% with Walsh.

3rd: #2 STRANGE ARRANGE – speedball went gate to wire two starts back going five furlongs in fast time.  

Race Seven:

1st: #3 MOTOWN MISCHIEF – broke her maiden in her career debut here back in May then ran in turf sprint stakes races in New Jersey and New York. She drops down in class for Tim Hamm, who wins 26% with this surface switch and 23% on synthetic tracks.   

2nd: #6 DEVRA WARRIOR – rallied from off the pace to win going away in her career debut going five furlongs about two months ago for Tim Hamm, who wins 15% first start after a maiden win. She has certainly trained well here in the meantime.

3rd: #7 ANOTHERDAYGONEBY – tried turf two starts back then shipped to Maryland and won on the dirt.

Race Eight:

1st: #6 SQUAD UP – horse for the course raced evenly two starts back when stretched out to two turns but she returned to a sprint and was a game second as the 3-2 favorite. She draws better here after being shuffled back from post one last out.

2nd: #2 COURTED – very consistent mare but just doesn’t win enough for me. She showed good speed last out and led to the final yards for Matt Kintz who wins 21% with his all-weather starters and 18% with his sprinters.

3rd: #3 GUCCI GAL – does her best running when she breaks well and gets involved early so it is up to Gaddiel Martinez.