Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024

Dick Powell analyzes Thursday’s card at Presque Isle Downs and offers his selections.

Race 1

1st: (4) CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT – horse for the course won here off a brief rest, then came back with a fast second as the odds-on favorite against better. He was outrun last out and drops down in class for Nolan Ramsey – 32% with his synthetic-track starters.  

2nd: (2) CALL ME LATER – speedball just missed against similar company two starts back, then was a game second in fast time last out when used hard from post 1. Randy Russell wins 26% when he rides Gaddiel Martinez.     

3rd: (1) UNRAPTURED – drops down in class looking for class relief for Mike Rogers. 

Race 2

1st: (2) ART NOUVEAU – raced evenly in her first three career starts, then was a good second when rallying wide going two turns for the first time. Daughter of Constitution draws well and gets Pablo Morales. 

2nd: (6) DELORAINE – was badly outrun in her career debut going two turns on the turf at Ellis Park, then improved a lot when tried on the dirt. Daughter of Candy Ride tries Tapeta for the first time with Willie Martinez. 

3rd: (5) BILLIE CEE – tries two turns on Tapeta for the first time, but Larry Rivelli is able to get Antonio Gallardo to ride. 

Race 3

1st: (3) SHANTY SHACK – showed speed before tiring going two turns in his first two Tapeta starts here, then improved with a third in a long sprint against this claiming level. Ron Potts wins 22% with his synthetic-track starters.   

2nd: (6) CHEERS FOR KITTEN – was an even third in his Tapeta debut, then came back and showed good speed against similar company in very fast time. Keri Brion wins 15% with her claiming starters and 14% on synthetic tracks. 

3rd: (1) GUACO – horse for the course drops back down in class to a level that he ran well against last month. 

Race 4

1st: (5) SECRET WISPER – showed speed on the dirt and turf sprints at Penn before shipping here and almost going gate to wire against this level. Amy Albright wins 15% with her sprinters and 14% with her claimers. 

2nd: (1) CARLOTUK – has had many chances against better, and the daughter of Constitution drops down in class off a good second last out. Tim Girten wins 29% third start off the layoff and 32% when he rides Gallardo.  

3rd: (2) KAGERO – has been stuck at this conditioned claiming level for three starts but draws well today. 

Race 5

1st: (7) SHEZ UNTAPPABLE – winless in five career starts here, but her last two are good enough to beat these. She was a good second off a two-month layoff as the even-money favorite and takes on males.

2nd: (1) SPOKEN VOW – opened up a big lead two starts back going two turns against low-level maiden claimers, then held well for third when dropped back to a sprint. She draws the rail and should be tough to catch with Brooke Bays on the lead. 

3rd: (4) MICHAELSHATRICK – was a good third two starts back but then tired last out when rushed up after a clumsy start. 

Race 6

1st: (4) TOOLCAT – horse for the course has won four straight here this year with stalk-and-pounce trips against this optional claiming level. Ron Potts wins 25% with his allowance runners and is 7-for-11 with Pablo Morales. 

2nd: (6) DI’S SURPRISE – won a turf sprint against decent company at Hawthorne, then chased the pace at Kentucky Downs. She won on the dirt last out as the odds-on favorite there last out for Rivelli, who wins 34% first start after a win. 

3rd: (2) VINOS ANGEL – won her first three starts here and then raced evenly against this level behind the top choice. 

Race 7

1st: (5) WROTE IN STONE – was up and down the class ladder going short here, then stretched out to two turns and went gate to wire as the even-money favorite before being taken down. Walber Alencar rides back. 

2nd: (9) UNCLE ANDREW – raced evenly on the turf at Colonial Downs, then he came here and raced evenly going short. He drops down in class and while stretching out in distance for Keith Dickey, whose last 68 claimers show a flat-bet profit. 

3rd: (1) VILLAGE PREACHER – one-dimensional closer improved some last out and can save ground from here. 

Race 8

1st: (4) BALLINDINE – just missed two starts back in his second start here, then he made a big, middle move before weakening. Maria Bowersock wins 16% with her synthetic-track starters and 19% with Ron Allen Jr.  

2nd: (7) TRAVELLER – raced evenly two starts back, then opened up a huge lead before being run down in the deep stretch when blinkers were added. He has some Brisnet Speed ratings that are good enough to beat these at long odds. 

3rd: (10) DANCING MISCHIEF – lost all chance two back when he broke poorly in a sprint but was a good second going two turns.