Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024

Dick Powell handicaps the eight-race card at Presque Isle Downs on Tuesday.

Race 1

1st: (4) GRINNING – did nothing in her career debut going seven furlongs on the dirt at Keeneland but came back with a good second going this distance on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park. Off for 260 days, she returns with Lasix added. 

2nd: (3) LITTLE MISS MUNNY – only recent race that was not good enough to beat this class came against male company two starts back. She rallied for second behind a fast pace last out and meets the same level with Addiel Ayala.   

3rd: (1) BLAME THE WARRIOR – ran well in her first two career starts here going two turns each time. 

Race 2

1st: (3) RED PIXIE – horse for the course is 13-8-3-1 here. She won her seasonal debut and was a good second when moved up in class. Throw out her second going at six furlongs last time, she figures to improve on the class drop for Gerry Brooks. 

2nd: (2) BOURBON BLAST – won going six furlongs in her second start of the year and then she won from way back in good time while stretched out to two turns. Last out she raced evenly against much better competition. Lance Stokes has won 18% going long. 

3rd: (1) SONET’S NAME – won her Presque Isle Downs debut and came right back and won again. She just missed last out and stretches out. 

Race 3

1st: (4) DREAMFUL – ran well here without winning last year in four tries. After a poor dirt start at Oaklawn Park, she opened up a big lead last out before tiring as the odds-on favorite going two turns against this conditioned claiming level. 

2nd: (5) SHE HAD A SECRET – showed good speed on a muddy track two starts back at Mahoning Valley, then rallied for third in her Presque Isle debut six months later. This grandson of Tapit stretches out to two turns. 

3rd: (2) NATURE TRAIL – prepped for this with two turf races out of town and returns to her favorite surface. 

Race 4

1st: (5) JOHN DUTTON – ran on the turf against much better company two starts in a row, then was a good second against state-bred allowance foes in her Presque Isle debut. Chris Davis has won 19% first time against claimers and gets Gaddiel Martinez. 

2nd: (3) CAMILO – began this season with a pair of sprints where he raced evenly but stretched out two turns and got caught last out by a neck. He comes back against similar company for Katy Cheeks, who has won 12% with her overall claimers.  

3rd: (1) TAP THE SKY – speedy three-year-old makes his fifth start of the meet and looks like his form is tailing off a bit. 

Race 5

1st: (5) AMPLIO ESQUEMA – was an even third two starts back in her PID debut against better company, then she dropped down to this conditioned claiming level but ran one-paced. Antonio Gallardo picks up the ride. 

2nd: (3) LADY FREE WILL – broke her maiden in her ninth start and Presque Iske debut, then she came back and won again. Jay Bernardini has won 24% of his first starts after a win and 18% with his overall claiming starters.  

3rd: (4) JULIETTE FALLS – has some good races here going two turns but prepped for this with three sprints. 

Race 6

1st: (2) HECTOR – missed by a head against this open allowance level, then just missed as the even-money favorite against state-bred allowance foes. Ron Potts has won 29% of his first starts after being beaten as the favorite.  

2nd: (8) STRAIGHTOUTADUTTON – speedball went gate to wire to finish up last season. He came out eight months later and just missed in his seasonal debut here, then beat $15,000 claimers last out. 

3rd: (1) HE’S A GOOD DANCER – has decent late-pace ratings, so the long sprint might fit him well. 

Race 7

1st: (5) MODAROSA – has improved in all three career starts no matter what the surface. She was a good second on a muddy track at Pimlico, then came here and broke her maiden by over four lengths as the odds-on favorite. 

2nd: (8) CLOUD IN THE WIND – just missed two starts back here after being shuffled back from post 1, then she romped going six furlongs. She moves up a notch in class for Tim Girten, who has won 20% of his first starts after a win as well as with his synthetic-track starters.  

3rd: (2) UP FOR IT – turf sprinter in good form tries Tapeta for the first time, which he has trained well over at Fair Hill. 

Race 8

1st: (2) PROTECTTHEWITNESS – ran well here last year against better competition, but dropped in class for his first start off the layoff. He was a good third then and came back with a good second, after which he was reclaimed by Ed Rojas. 

2nd: (1) LA PANDA – won her final start here last year in October and then returned in a turf route two weeks ago at Colonial Downs. She drops down to the bottom-claimers for the first time and draws the rail with Gaddiel Martinez. 

3rd: (6) WILD LOOKER – rallied for third two starts back going six furlongs, then raced evenly in another sprint.