Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024

Dick Powell handicaps the Tuesday card at Presque Isle Downs. 

Race 1

1st: (4) PANCHO SLIPS AWAY – missed going gate to wire in his well-bet career debut here going this distance in fast time. He’ll be heavily bet against these and draws the same post 4. Kevin Rice wins 21% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

2nd: (1) RIVAGE – first-time starter from Keri Brion, who wins 11% with her debut runners and 12% against this maiden level. Son of Maximus Mischief (14% debut winners) is training well on the Tapeta at Fair Hill.   

3rd: (3) HIGHTAIL FOX – raced evenly in his career debut, then improved some last out. 

Race 2

1st: (2) KATHLYNS PHALANX – just missed going two turns here against this maiden claiming level, then came back and was second in fast time at this distance. Marc Sharp is winless this year, but he’s able to get Pablo Morales back aboard. 

2nd: (4) LADYS CHANT – winless in 10 career starts, but she has seven placings on dirt, turf, and Tapeta. She was an even third here going this distance last out behind the top choice for Maria Bowersock. who wins 16% with her synthetic-track starters. 

3rd: (6) MIDNIGHT FAME – winless in 10 career starts, but many came against better company. 

Race 3

1st: (2) UNCLE CAESAR – did nothing in his first two career starts, then broke his maiden in his Tapeta debut against this maiden claiming level with blinkers added. He just missed off the claim last out and should get an inside trip with Antonio Gallardo. 

2nd: (3) SECRET TREASURE – took him 16 starts to break his maiden, but then he came right back against this claiming level and was an even third from a wide post. Son of Arrogate gets Morales back aboard – 6-for-10 riding for Ron Potts.

3rd: (1) EPIC KNIGHT – did little on the dirt when blinkers were added, but he came back here with a good second.

Race 4

1st: (1) NOBLE JON – horse for the course won his first two PID starts, then went to Penn and won a turf sprint. He showed good speed in fast time last out here for Erin McClellan, who wins 20% with her sprint starters.   

2nd: (2) COURT AND SPARK – horse for the course has won five of eight starts here, including against this starter allowance level last out. Scooter Davis wins 24% first start after a win and 26% with his synthetic-track starters. 

3rd: (5) ENJOY THE MUSIC – horse for the course has won 11 times here and just missed against better company last out. 

Race 5

1st: (3) THE SINNER IS YOU – horse for the course has won 12 times here, and many came against better company. He dropped down to similar company last out, missing by a length, and he will be a stretch factor in this long sprint.    

2nd: (5) MACKENZIE’S NOVVA – beat this level here the last time he faced them. His form has gone bad recently, so he drops back down for Bowersock, who wins 18% first start out of her barn.  

3rd: (6) AQUITANIA ARRIVAL – dropped down to this level and won his Tapeta debut here last out in fast time. 

Race 6

1st: (5) FACE DOWN – beat cheaper three starts back in good time, then was an even third against allowance foes. He beat this claiming level last out with a nice rally from just off the pace for Tim Girten, who wins 23% first start after a win. 

2nd: (7) GOTTS GOT IT – raced evenly on dirt two starts in a row out of town, then came here and just missed as the odds-on favorite. Potts wins 29% first start after being beaten as the favorite, and Gallardo rides back.  

3rd: (1) STRIDER’S SLIDER – was a good winner two starts back on dirt at Penn, then just missed here against this level. 

Race 7

1st: (6) U KNOW WHEN U KNOW – rallied from far back to get up by a neck in a turf sprint at Laurel in her career debut. Brittany Russell is 4-for-10 with this surface switch and 20% first start after a maiden win.   

2nd: (4) THUNDER BERN – only poor recent race came going two turns. She came back to break her maiden by over six lengths on the dirt at Colonial Downs for Ethan West, who wins 12% first start after a maiden win and 16% with this surface switch.   

3rd: (7) HAZARD PAY – showed speed in each of her first three career starts, then went gate to wire last out when blinkers were added. 

Race 8

1st: (2) AQUACAT – raced poorly on the turf at Hawthorne against better, then shipped here and won his PID debut by over seven lengths. He did nothing next out, but woke up and almost went gate to wire when transferred to the barn of Ed Rojas.  

2nd: (4) CATATUMBO – winless here after eight tries over the years, but his Brisnet Speed ratings put him in the mix. He missed by a nose two starts back, then raced evenly last out behind a slow pace. 

3rd: (5) LIGHTNING CHARLIE – his late rally fell a length short two starts back, then he won by a neck last out.