Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024

Dick Powell offers his selections for Tuesday’s program at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (7) STIFLING HEAT – first-time starter from Todd Beattie, who wins 16% with his debut runners. By Cairo Prince (13% debut winners), juvenile is out of a stakes-winning dam by Flatter, whose only foal to race is a winner. 

2nd: (6) WARRIOR’S COBBLER – showed good speed for a half-mile in his well-bet career debut and now drops down to maiden claimers. Tim Girten wins 38% with this maiden drop down and 27% with Antonio Gallardo over the last 60 days.  

3rd: (3) YACHT INTENTIONS – raced evenly in his career debut going 5 1/2 furlongs here. 

Race 2

1st: (2) STARSHIP MACYS – horse for the course is very hard to catch when he can shake loose early. He beat this claiming level by nearly 10 lengths and then when moved up to face open allowance foes last time. Mike Pappada wins 26% first start after losing as the favorite.  

2nd: (5) SPECTACULLARI – rallied from far off the pace to win going away two starts back at long odds, then did nothing when moved way up in class.  Daughter of Include gets in light again with Brooke Bays. 

3rd: (7) UPPITY UP – fell too far behind two starts back and then dropped down in class and won easily in decent time. 

Race 3

1st: (4) VINO COURAGIO – finished out of the money in his first three career starts, then improved greatly with a good second going this distance and level. Teresa Connelly wins 13% with his synthetic-track starters. 

2nd: (3) LAKE CUMBERLAND – rallied some in his career debut and improved some last out going two turns. Son of Bernardini has a trio of five-furlong breezes on Turfway's Tapeta in preparation.

3rd: (6) PREACH IT WARRIOR – did nothing in his well-bet career debut but showed much better speed last out. 

Race 4

1st: (6) HAIG POINT – has found a home against bottom claimers with two wins and four seconds since dropping down. He won by a nose last out as the 9-5 favorite in decent time for Tim Girten, who wins 22% first start after a win and 36% with Pablo Morales over the last 60 days. 

2nd: (1) MACKENZIE’S NOVVA – has been up and down the class ladder on Tapeta or turf going long or short. He raced evenly in a sprint last out and now drops down in class while stretching out to two turns. 

3rd: (2) GREY CHARMER – right back after beating this claiming level twice in a row and draws better. 

Race 5

1st: (7) MOMENTOUS MISS – dropped down to this claiming level and missed by a neck, then moved way up in class and almost went gate to wire. She drops back down and Ron Allen Jr. rides back. 

2nd: (2) NEGRA GATA – showed speed for a half-mile before tiring on the dirt at Saratoga, then shipped here and broke her maiden by more than nine lengths as the 3-10 favorite for Linda Rice, who wins 22% first start after breaking her maiden. 

3rd: (9) GOOD TO BE TRUGE – held well two starts back against this level and just missed when dropped down in class. 

Race 6

1st: (3) BEADS – made a strong middle move before weakening in her PID debut, then she shortened to six furlongs and missed by a neck. Daughter of Speightstown stretches back out to two turns for Tim Hamm, who wins 18% with this move. 

2nd: (1) ENNEREILLY – Irish-bred filly goes from turf to Tapeta for Graham Motion, who has the luxury of working her on the Tapeta at Fair Hill. She draws the rail and gets Antonio Gallardo.  

3rd: (8) LITTLE MISS MUNNY – has yet to win here in seven tries but has six placings. 

Race 7

1st: (8) R ADMIRAL – chased a glacial pace going a mile and 70 yards here last out and should appreciate today’s shorter distance. He has some decent efforts going two turns against similar company for John Fennessy.

2nd: (2) PEMAQUID PETE – horse for the course has won 13 times here at the age of eight, including a fast win three starts back. He tired against stakes foes but held well after setting a strong pace last out. 

3rd: (1) HEY PADRE – moves up in class off the claim by Scooter Davis and went gate to wire last out. 

Race 8

1st: (10) GOTHAM GRAY – broke her maiden in her 14th try, then came back to run second three races in a row against this conditioned claiming level. He has to overcome a wide draw but gets Antonio Gallardo back aboard.  

2nd: (8) PENNY POLKA – broke her maiden first time out two years ago and wound up facing much better. After six straight poor efforts, the daughter of Mendelssohn drops way down in class for Tim Hamm. 

3rd: (5) OUTFACTORED – returns to PID after two decent efforts on the dirt at Timonium and gets in light with Brooke Bays.