Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Sept. 7, 2022

Handicapper Dick Powell provides selections for each race on the Presque Isle Downs race card.

Race 1:

1ST: (1) DAWGMENTALITY – showed good speed in his well-bet career debut then came back at two turns and led to the deep stretch. Son of Smarty Jones turns back to a sprint for Ron Potts, who wins 16% going long to short.

2ND: (6) COLONEL POPPY – rallied for second in his career debut going five furlongs then showed better speed last out before tiring. Matt Kintz wins 24% with his maiden special weight starters and 22% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

3RD (2) WILLIE WANDO – woke up second time out with a good second then faded last out against open company maidens.

Race 2:

1ST: (7) RIO DEL ARMOUR – was a good third against better maidens going this distance then ran poorly when stretched out to two turns. She dropped down to this class and distance last out and rallied for third in good time.

2ND: (4) SHORTY MAC – showed some speed against better maidens in a five-furlong turf sprint at Penn National. She drops back in class and gets in light again with Hannah Leahey – 13% with her sprint rides.  Ron Rogers wins 15% going turf to synthetic.

3RD: (2) BROKEN LOVE – still winless in 14 tries and moves up a notch in class but she has five placings.

 

Race 3:

1ST: (2) TEAM HOT LINE – woke up two starts back in an off-the-turf event on a sloppy track as the 3-10 favorite and missed going gate to wire by a nose. She could not handle allowance foes last out and now drops down to claimers for the first time.

2ND: (5) SHES A THREAT – put blinkers back on and rallied for second two starts back here then just missed last out against the same group. Devoid of speed, she seems to have found a home against this level and it looks like her turn.

3RD: (1) SIDE ACTION – ran poorly two races in a row then improved with a third last out. Now, she adds Lasix.

 

Race 4:

1^sS (2) ALATION – still a maiden after five tries but she has run well enough to stay at this maiden level. Last out, she faced open company maidens with Lasix added and even though she finished fifth, it was her fastest race ever.

2ND: (1) SLENDER BETSY – should have enough gate speed to keep up early from post 1. She was third from this post two starts back then was a good second in a stalking trip from post 6. Kevin Rice wins 16% with his synthetic-track starters.

3RD: (6) SPARKLING WATER – was soundly beaten on turf and dirt but woke up here with a good second in her Tapeta debut.

 

Race 5:

1ST: (2) MOLISE – was beaten 34 lengths in three starts on dirt and turf but came here & was a good second against similar company going two turns. She romped by over five lengths as the odds-on favorite last out & now moves up off the Bill Martin claim.

2ND: (3) MISS CALIFORNIA – didn’t run bad in two starts on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park this winter. She shipped here and was overmatched against open allowance foes and now drops down to conditioned claimers for John Guciardo.

3RD: (1) DIAL ME AGAIN – did nothing in her career debut on turf at Belmont then shipped here and broke her maiden.

 

Race 6:

1ST: (4) K C ROCKET – broke her maiden in her Tapeta debut back May then was a good second behind a next-out winner. His last two starts against open allowance foes were good. Bill Martin wins 25% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

2ND: (3) GENERAL WINSTON – broke his maiden second time out here then was a game second in fast time. He went to Thistledown and did nothing on the dirt after a poor start. Matt Kintz wins 19% going from dirt to synthetic.

3RD: (8) HIDEKI – improved some two starts back when Lasix was added then broke her maiden last out.

 

Race 7:

1ST: (1) HARROW – was a good second two starts back here going this distance in very fast time then came back and won going away. His speed ratings are improving so it looks like he should be able to handle the move up in class.

2ND: (3) BARNEGAT LIGHT – horse for the course ran well in two starts here to start the year then shipped to Saratoga and showed good speed in two turf starts against big fields. Tim Hamm wins 27% going from turf to synthetic.  

3RD: (4) JO JO HANS – was claimed for $40,000 three starts back by Gerry Brooks but needs to do better to make that back.

 

Race 8:

1ST: (4) LEMONSANDDIAMONDS – first-time starter from Tim Hamm who wins 16% with his debut runners and 15% with his overall maiden claimers. Daughter of Lemon Drop Kid (10% debut winners) is a half-sister to two winners.

2ND: (3) LIBERTALIA – speedball has yet to win after 14 tries but she has three seconds here in five starts. She has been stuck at this maiden claiming level but held on well to be second last out. Maria Bowersock wins 14% with her sprint starters.

3RD: (7) DAWSON SPRINGS – makes her Tapeta debut off a 300-day layoff for Michelle Brafford who adds Lasix.