Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Sept. 26

Race One:

1st: #5 LIBERTALIA – was showing high speed going two turns then dropped down to sprints and ran second in her last two starts. She’s been stuck at this level all meet but at least has four seconds in six tries. Ron Allen Jr. rides back.

2nd: #4 TOOSWEETFORME – added blinkers two starts back and was only beaten a length here going two turns. She came back and was an even third last out and now turns back to six furlongs for Glenn Wismer, who wins 29% with this move.

3rd: #1 SWEET AMY – has yet to finish in the money in her first four starts, but they all came against much better maiden company.

 

Race Two:

1st: #1 RIVERSIDE WALK – began this year with two even efforts then dropped down in class and won gate to wire. She came back to win virtually the same race and now moves up a notch for Larry Hayes. Horse for the course is 7-for-13 here.

2nd: #5 CINCO DE MANDEE – beat state-bred allowance foes three starts back then tired in her next two against much better open claimers. Now, she takes a dramatic drop in class and switches to Addiel Ayala.

3rd: #6 BOURBON GAL – been showing speed against much better and finally drops down to a more realistic claiming level.

 

Race Three:

1st: #2 SAVAGE – horse for the course began the season with two turf sprints then shipped back here and got up in time against this state-bred claiming level. Maria Bowersock wins 20% of first starts out of her barn and 17% of first starts after a win.

2nd: #5 CHARLIE CHARLIE – moves up in class off four starts this year against bottom claimers and he won two of them. Horse for the course has seven winners here and 16 placings. Larry Hayes wins 16% with his overall claimers and they show a flat-bet profit.

3rd: #1 KITCHEN FIRE – horse for the course ran well against cheaper on the dirt in Indiana for Matt Kintz.

 

Race Four:

1st: #4 SONG OF INDY – horse for the course has been running well against better going two turns and now drops in class and distance for Mike Rogers, who wins 15% going long to short. Daughter of Take Charge Indy gets Addiel Ayala back aboard.

2nd: #5 UP IN ARMS – couldn’t handle good maidens to begin her career but since then has run well. She won three of four starts and was second last out as the 9-10 favorite. Tim Hamm wins 27% of first starts after being beaten as the favorite.

3rd: #6 EMERALD CITADELLE – speedy 10-year-old mare held well to be second here last out.

 

Race Five:

1st: #1 DOM THE BOMB – ran well here in his first two Presque Isle Downs starts then went to Belterra and won a turf sprint last out going this distance. Richard Estvanko wins 22% of first starts after a win and picks up Pablo Morales.

2nd: #2 GRANDE TORTUGON – beat this claiming level twice in a row then failed when moved up to open allowance company. After an eight-week breather, he comes back at the right price for Ryan Walsh, who wins 12% with his synthetic-track starters.

3rd: #3 SAMURAI LEGACY – all or nothing gelding either goes gate to wire or tires and packs it in.

 

Race Six:

1st: #7 RESIST THE DEVIL – began the year with a decent third in fast time against this claiming level then did nothing on dirt at Saratoga. He improved some next out then was a good second against open allowance foes for Kevin Rice.

2nd: #6 HAMMER LANE – tired in a turf sprint at Colonial Downs in fast time then shipped here and was used hard from post one through suicidal fractions before packing it in seven days ago in a stakes race. Not sure how he will react from that effort.

3rd: #3 SPIRITED SOL – improved enough to break his maiden in his fifth career start and beat similar here last out.

 

Race Seven:

1st: #6 ANTIGONE – has been favored in her last five starts up at Woodbine, where she has prospered on the Tapeta. After racing evenly two starts back behind a slow pace, she came back with a good second. Pablo Morales picks up the mount.

2nd: #2 STARSHIP BELMONT – was claimed for $25K three starts back here in her Tapeta debut, and she came back and weakened against this allowance level. She was a good second in a rough trip and now switches to Antonio Gallardo.

3rd: #5 SOCIAL DILEMMA – only 1-for-16 lifetime, but she has faced top allowance company in Kentucky on dirt and turf.

 

Race Eight:

1st: #4 GORUN – drops down in class for Anthony Farrior, who wins 28% going long to short and 26% with his maiden claimers. Son of Runhappy just missed two starts back going a mile on the turf and was second here at this distance back in July.

2nd: #2 TARQUIN – hard to handicap a horse off a single good effort, but this six-year-old maiden woke up at 35-1 last out when he missed by a head against this maiden claiming level. He draws inside and can save ground to the stretch.

3rd: #7 SPIRITED DEBATE – improved some last out in his second career start and could get a piece if he improves again.