Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Dick Powell offers his selections for the Tuesday card at Presque Isle Downs.

 

Race One:

1^st: (5) BLUE SKY’S ABOVE – returns off a 258-day layoff for John Bourke, who wins only 8% in this spot, but his last 119 claimers have shown a flat-bet profit. Horse for the course has seven wins and 23 placings.

2^nd: (4) MR. MAGICO – another coming in off a long layoff for Jay Bernardini, who wins 12% in this spot and 18% with his overall claimers. The nine-year-old gelding has some speed and should be a big price.

3^rd: (2) ANOTHER BREEZE – made a menacing middle move before weakening in his first start off the long layoff.

 

Race Two:

1^st: (1) T C GREELEY – just missed here in his Presque Isle debut then did nothing next out. He came back as the 13-10 favorite and won by over five lengths for Ed Rojas, who wins 30% first start after a win and 29% when he uses Martina Rojas.

2^nd: (4) SILVER TOKEN – one-dimensional closer was a good third here two starts back against this conditioned claiming level then rallied for second from post nine. He draws much better today and should be fit from those efforts.

3^rd: (8) STRASBOURG – showed high speed going two turns two starts back against better then did nothing last out.

 

Race Three:

1^st: (5) WHISKEYMAC – broke his maiden here by three lengths two starts back against open company then came back and beat state-bred allowance foes. With those conditions gone, he drops down to $25K claimers and gets Antonio Gallardo back aboard.

2^nd: (6) BEACH HOLIDAY – stretches out to two turns off two six-furlong sprints against this claiming level. Gelded son of the great Into Mischief should be able to run up near the pace with Ron Allen Jr.

3^rd: (3) BRUMBA WAFFLE TOES – beat state-bred allowance foes two starts back here then tired after six furlongs.

 

Race Four:

1^st: (11) LT. LYDIA – dropped down to this maiden claiming level last out and was a good third from post nine. She comes back from a wider draw, but she has enough speed to overcome it with Alice Beckman back aboard.

2^nd: (2) KAGERO – was soundly beaten in her first three career starts but added Lasix last out and missed by a head from post 12 at almost 62-1. She draws much better today for John Fennessy — 10% with his overall maiden claimers.

3^rd: (1) CHICKEN TALK – improved a lot in his second career start off the long layoff and could get a piece of this.

 

Race Five:

1^st: (5) CHEROKEE CHATTER – horse for the course has five wins and five seconds in 16 starts. She beat open allowance foes last out going six furlongs in fast time and faces cheaper company for Cathy Rozantz, who wins 23% first start off the win.

2^nd: (4) SOUTH HOUSE – had been facing cheaper on the dirt at Penn National but shipped here and beat this optional claiming level from just off the pace. Flint Stites wins 14% first start after a win and with his synthetic-track starters.

3^rd: (2) QUEEN OF CHILL – improved greatly when Lasix was added with three wins in her last five starts.

 

Race Six:

1^st: (8) FLIGHT TO PARADISE – am surprised that he is entered for $10K here. He earned $48K last year and was a good second last out against better. Coming back on two week’s rest, I think he lays over this field class-wise.

2^nd: (5) ON THE COUCH – has yet to finish in the money here in three tries this year and drops down in class. He has solid speed ratings so maybe the class relief will be enough to put him in the mix. Gary Wales rides back looking for his first win of the year.

3^rd: (4) YADI – moves up in class, but he could improve in his second start of the year.

 

Race Seven:

1^st: (7) EXTRASEXYBIGDADDEE – raced well on the turf this winter at Gulfstream Park going two turns. Horse for the course came here off a three-month layoff, and his late rally fell a head short. Mike Trombetta wins 29% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

2^nd: (2) GET EVEN – speedball raced evenly here going 5 1/2 furlongs then stretched out to two turns and held on for third after carving out decent fractions. From post two, he looks like the inside speed with Mike Allen back aboard.

3^rd: (1) VAN – returned to the races off a 14-month layoff and raced evenly against this class and distance.

 

Race Eight:

1^st: (2) BLUE NEITH – just missed in her lone start here last year going two turns. She had decent turf starts at Tampa Bay Downs then missed by a length as the odds-on favorite on the turf at Mountaineer Park for Matt Kintz.

2^nd: (1) LEAD PERFORMER – broke her maiden by seven lengths going gate to wire on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park. She comes in here off two turf starts at Horseshoe Indianapolis and draws the rail with Antonio Gallardo — 22% with his route rides. 

3^rd: (8) SIGN AND SEAL – broke her maiden here last year going two turns and prepped for this with a good third against this level.