Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024

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

Race 1

1st: (4) CHEERFUL TROUT – after 12 tries to break her maiden, she drops down to bottom maiden claimers for Moises Valdez. She was a good second two back against top state-bred maidens, then tired last out after a decent middle move.   

2nd: (3) MOST DIVINE – perennial maiden finished behind the top choice two starts back, then raced evenly in decent time as the 2-1 favorite. Mark Hoffman has had a strong meet and is able to get leading rider Antonio Gallardo. 

3rd: (8) BLAH BLAH WORLD – hasn’t run badly but has to drop down if she is ever going to break her maiden. 

Race 2

1st: (2) THIRTY OYSTERS – romped by over eight lengths two starts back as the odds-on favorite going two turns. He came back and raced evenly last out and draws well with Carlos Camilo, who wins 23% with his route rides. 

2nd: (4) PARTNER TOURS – has run well against this conditioned claiming level the past two starts. He missed by a head two starts back, then was an even third after moving way up in class. John Fennessy wins 20% with this drop in class.  

3rd: (6) DARK SIDE – his late rally fell a length short in his PID debut when blinkers were put back on. 

Race 3

1st: (1) CLOUD IN THE WIND – was a good winner two starts back when she stalked the pace and took over. She came back against this state-bred allowance level and held well after chasing the pace. Tim Girten wins 24% with his allowance runners. 

2nd: (5) LITTLE LAMB CHOP – won her Tapeta debut here two starts back when she went gate to wire, then rallied from just off the pace to beat open claimers. Kevin Rice wins 17% with his synthetic-track starters and 14% first start after a win.

3rd: (6) REIGERT GIRLS – just missed two starts back, then won going away by five lengths as the 2-5 favorite. 

Race 4

1st: (6) FIERCE AND STRONG – ran well here last year, then came back this year with three starts on the turf at Penn National. He was an even fourth against state-bred stakes foes last out. The versatile gelding just looks too good for this field. 

2nd: (1) CODE RUNNER – was soundly beaten by 19 lengths two starts back on the dirt at Keeneland, then won at Hawthorne. He was claimed that day by Hugo Rodriguez, who wins 22% with this move, and he draws the rail with Gallardo.

3rd: (2) MORNING THOUGHTS – won three races in a row on the dirt at Laurel Park and shows a past win on synthetic. 

Race 5

1st: (3) FIELDER – horse for the course beat similar here two starts back, then won again last out. Off for 54 days, he comes back against the same group in his first start off the claim by Scooter Davis, who surprisingly wins only 12% with this move. 

2nd: (7) GET EVEN – missed by a length two starts back here against better, then was right there before weakening. He drops down in class for the Allens and should be able to set up a stalk-and-pounce trip from here.   

3rd: (5) CASANOVA KITTEN – just missed two starts back in his PID debut, then raced evenly in a fast time. 

Race 6

1st: (8) GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME – dropped down to this conditioned claiming level for the first time and missed by a nose. She came back and raced evenly in a wide trip from post 9, so Erin Walker has to find a way of saving ground on one of the turns. 

2nd: (7) ROSEBUD RYDE – ships in from Finger Lakes off some uneven efforts. Her last two there were sprints that included a second on a sloppy track. New trainer Julius Ashley is able to get Pablo Morales in the irons.

3rd: (3) OMIKAMI – one-dimensional closer has not won a race in a long time for Ed Rojas. 

Race 7

1st: (8) SECRET TREASURE – finally broke his maiden in his 16th try and now faces decent conditioned claimers. This son of Arrogate has a big late kick for Ron Potts, who wins 27% first start after a maiden win and 21% with his synthetic-track starters. 

2nd: (1) MONEY IN MOTION – missed by a head in his PID debut here, then was up the track on turf. He was an even third on turf at Laurel and now returns to the Tapeta for Mike Trombetta, who wins 16% with this surface switch. 

3rd: (3) MAC’S CAT – stretched out to two turns for the first time and won by over nine lengths two starts back. 

Race 8

1st: (5) WHISKEY OR WINE – finished off the board in his first four career starts, then woke up here last out and missed by a neck. This son of Arrogate draws well and gets in light again with Dereck Lopez back aboard. 

2nd: (6) MR. IMPATIENT – drops down in class while stretching out in distance for Justin Morrell, who wins 19% with this move. He’s improved some since blinkers were added three starts back.  

3rd: (3) BROMISTA – was badly beaten two starts back against this level, then improved when moved up in class.