Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, June 20, 2023

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

Race 1

1st: (5) VACCINA – returned to the races with an even effort going 5 1/2 furlongs, then stretched out to two turns, and just missed going gate to wire. Cassandra Judd wins 11% with her synthetic-track starters and she is able to secure Pablo Morales to ride.

2nd: (2) CAPTAIN COURTNEY – raced evenly in her well-bet career debut on the dirt at Parx Racing and then came back there to romp by over 8 lengths going two turns on the turf. Mike Trombetta wins 15% first start after a maiden win.  

3rd: (1) OMIKAMI – broke her maiden by 11 lengths against cheap maidens on the dirt and then came to Presque Isle and just missed with these.

Race 2

1st: (3) REDHOT KATIE – ran well on the Tapeta at Turfway Park over the years. She was a good second there two starts back and then shipped here where she was a distant third after making a strong middle move into a slow pace.

2nd: (8) WINDY CITY GIRL – beat this claiming level here last year going two turns. She missed by a length here last out in her second start off the long layoff for Maria Bowersock, who wins 15% with her synthetic-track starters.

3rd: (4) KEYPIT – does have some back class here on the Tapeta but adding blinkers hasn’t done much for her.

Race 3

1st: (6) HAPPY BEE – ran well here last year going two turns against allowance foes. She spent the winter on the dirt at Mahoning Valley and then came here where she was a good second after contesting the pace.

2nd: (4) MALDIVES MODEL – was a decent third here in a two-turn stakes race in good time and raced evenly with blinkers on the turf at Laurel. Off for over seven months, she came back and showed good speed on turf, which should set her up well for today.

3rd: (1) PHAROAH’S SONG – well-traveled filly by American Pharoah could be tough from the rail if she breaks well.

Race 4

1st: (1) HENRY’S WORLD – has some back class on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park. He came here for his PID debut and went gate-to-wire as the odds-on favorite against this level. Huber Villa-Gomez rides back.

2nd: (3) GREAT BLAKE – 9-year-old has plenty of back class. He began this season on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs and then came here to run right there in the deep stretch behind two next-out winners. Antonio Gallardo rides back – 20% with his sprint mounts.  

3rd: (6) HE’S ON THE FLY – went gate to wire here two starts back and then got caught in the deep stretch last out.

Race 5

1st: (6) JUSTINSPEIGHTOFIT – went gate-to-wire to win by over six lengths in his Tapeta debut here two starts back and then had a rough trip when moved up to allowance foes. He drops back down to this level and should be the one to catch.  

2nd: (9) JO JO HANS – takes a gigantic drop in class. He returned to the races and was beaten 35 lengths against allowance foes two starts back off the long layoff but was only beaten five lengths here against open allowance foes.

3rd: (1) CHAMPION BY DESIGN – has some gate speed which makes him dangerous if Pablo Morales can send him from the rail.

Race 6

1st: (10) JARETH – horse for the course has won nine times here over the years. This 9-year-old son of Hard Spun has had two decent efforts here to begin the season but has to break well from post 10. Ron Allen, Jr. rides back.  

2nd: (7) NOTACATBUTACARD – returned to the races off a seven-month layoff and got up in time to win and then came right back to do it again. Mark Hoffman wins 21% first start after a win and Antonio Gallardo rides back.   

3rd: (8) FUEL THE BERN – dropped down to this claiming level and raced evenly after being shuffled back from post one.  

Race 7

1st: (7) THE SINNER IS YOU – horse for the course is 9 for 18 over the years here. He has had two starts this year against better and drops down some for Ed Rojas, who wins 24% first start after being beaten as the favorite.   

2nd: (5) RIO ABAJO – returned to the races off a seven-month layoff and went gate-to-wire to win easily as the odds-on favorite. He’s won six times here and will keep doing it until he gets claimed. Gets in light with Martina Rojas.

3rd: (9) C’MON MAN – has some experience on Tapeta at Golden Gate and then won on the dirt last out at Belterra.

Race 8

1st: (11) YOU LOOKING AT ME – was beaten 29 lengths in two starts in a row but dropped down to this maiden claiming level and missed going gate-to-wire by a neck. She has good early speed and Mike Allen returns – 15% riding for John Fennessy.

2nd: (3) FERDA – woke up second time out when she rallied for third after being shuffled back from post one. She drops way down in class for new trainer Cassondra Weaver who wins 21% first start out of her barn.  

3rd: (6) LADY AREION – showed speed for a half-mile in her career debut and now drops way down in class.