Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024

Dick Powell handicaps Tuesday's card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (3) MIDNIGHT FAME – was a good third after returning to the races off a long layoff, then was fourth in a wide trip when moved up in class. She drops way down in class and should be fit and ready in her third start off the layoff. 

2nd: (6) KATHLYNS PHALANX – ran second in a wide trip at this same class and distance two starts back, then ran well to miss by a head going two turns for the first time. Winless trainer gets Pablo Morales, who always gets my attention. 

3rd: (7) GARNET AND GOLD – first-time starter from Adam Rice, who wins 15% with his debut runners. 

Race 2

1st: (6) CHEROKEE CHATTER – horse for the course tired two starts back against these, then rallied from off the pace to just miss after breaking awkwardly. She drops back down to the bottom and gets Gaddiel Martinez – 16% with his sprint rides.    

2nd: (2) WILD LOOKER – very consistent mare usually runs well against this level but doesn’t win often enough to put on top. She comes in here off a pair of seconds, the last as the odds-on favorite with Ron Allen Jr. aboard.

3rd: (3) PROSPECTIVE FORUM – speedball made her Tapeta debut, but it was off a long layoff and she merits another try. 

Race 3

1st: (5) DISCO DEANO – was a sharp winner two starts back at Saratoga in a wide trip from post 9. He came back there and showed high speed to the deep stretch. He has won here before and shows a bullet workout at Finger Lakes to get ready for this. 

2nd: (4) CERTAIN – horse for the course won going away two starts back in fast time, then just missed as the 6-5 favorite. Teresa Connelly wins 39% first start after being beaten as the favorite and gets Antonio Gallardo back. 

3rd: (1) CALL ME LATER – speedball breaking from the rail could not hang on but can save ground from the rail. 

Race 4

1st: (4) CHEERFUL TROUT – ran well two starts in a row going two turns but then she went back to sprinting without any success. Now, she stretches out to two turns for Moises Valdez, who wins 13% going short to long.  

2nd: (3) ALPHA CAT – did nothing in his first two career starts on the dirt. Off for nine weeks, he was an even fourth against top maidens but then ran poorly going two turns on the turf at Saratoga. 

3rd: (7) STRATEGYFORYOU – after 10 tries to no avail, he woke up with two seconds against this maiden claiming level. 

Race 5

1st: (6) DAZZLING TRUTHS – did little in two turf starts, then shipped here and ran third in a wide trip from post 10 in good time. He comes back against the same level in a long sprint for Gerry Brooks, who wins 21% third start off the layoff.    

2nd: (7) WAPITI WAY – horse for the course ran third in his last two starts when dropped down to this class level. He has virtually no gate speed but blinkers off might help. Kevin Rice wins 21% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

3rd: (3) CAPTAIN MAD JACK – horse for the course was an even third two starts back, then did nothing last out. 

Race 6

1st: (1) CLOUD IN THE WIND – only has one win in 11 tries here, but she has six placings. After beating this claiming level three starts back, he ran second twice in a row against state-bred allowance foes. Pablo Morales rides back for Tim Girten – 42% together over the last 60 days.   

2nd: (6) MAIDEN LANE – just missed two starts back going six furlongs, then won easily going two turns. Daughter of Street Sense turns back to a sprint for Tim Hamm, who wins 25% first start after a win. 

3rd: (2) LITTLE LAMB CHOP – broke her maiden in her Tapeta debut, then came back and beat similar claimers. 

Race 7

1st: (1) LITTLE BIG – has some decent efforts against this class level here going this distance. He bounced around against better company but returned to this level last out and held on for third after setting the pace from post 1. 

2nd: (2) GRAEL – was a sharp winner in a long sprint last out and could get a similar trip from here. Katy Cheeks wins 12% with her overall claimers and gets Morales back aboard – 19% with his sprint rides and 2-for-7 together over the last 60 days. 

3rd: (5) ELECTROSTATIC – has a ton of speed going two turns and now tries six furlongs. 

Race 8

1st: (9) LESLIE CHOW – won his first two starts at PID against better company, then railed when moved up to open allowance foes. He drops down to bottom claimers for Scooter Davis, who wins 27% going long and with his synthetic-track starters. 

2nd: (1) DARK SIDE – one-dimensional closer missed by a length in his PID debut, then came back to win by a head. He takes a drop in class while drawing the rail with Victor Severino – flat-bet profit with his 47 route mounts this year. 

3rd: (6) AQUACAT – romped by over seven lengths in his PID debut two starts back and drops to the bottom here.