Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023

Dick Powell offers his selections and analysis for Tuesday's card at Presque Isle Downs.

 

Race One:

1^st: (6) RED WREN – was a game second in her career debut after being shuffled back from post one and forced to rally wide. Kevin Rice wins 17% with his second-time starters, and his last 29 show a healthy flat-bet profit.

2^nd: (1) KENWICK – was an even third in her career debut on a yielding turf course at Hawthorne going 5 1/2 furlongs. Daughter of Bernardini is out of a dam by Street Sense that is a daughter of a Grade 2 stakes winner by Storm Cat.

3^rd: (4) CUPID MISSED – showed high speed in her well-bet career debut here going 5 1/2 furlongs and comes back on short rest.

 

Race Two:

1^st: (2) LUNA WARRIOR – added blinkers three starts back and just missed going seven furlongs on the Belmont turf. Son of War Front broke his maiden next time out then just missed in a turf sprint at Saratoga after breaking a bit slow.

2^nd: (5) SHY DA RUNNER – raced evenly here in his Tapeta debut going six furlongs then showed good speed to the deep stretch at two turns. He turns back to a sprint for Tim Girten, who wins 33% going long to short.

3^rd: (3) UNCLE JOCK – missed going gate to wire in his last start against this claiming level.

 

Race Three:

1^st: (4) MILITARY DRILL – horse for the course beat this claiming level two starts in a row. Claimed for this price, he was an even fourth against open allowance foes and now drops back to the right level for Ed Rojas.

2^nd: (5) GUACO – horse for the course beat bottom claimers two races in a row then beat similar to these by four lengths as the odds-on favorite. Cassondra Weaver wins 52% first start after a win, and her claimers win 28%.

3^rd: (2) STRAIGHTOUTADUTTON – tired in his return to the races off a long layoff then was second in his last two starts.

 

Race Four:

1^st: (3) HECTOR – was a good third in his well-bet career debut here going 4 1/2 furlongs then showed good speed last out when blinkers were added. Ron Potts wins 25% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

2^nd: (5) BANNEKER – first-time starter from Jack Sisterson, who only wins 5% with his debut runners. By Not This Time (19% with his debut runners), he is out of a dam by Street Boss that won as a two-year-old, and she has produced a two-year-old winner.

3^rd: (4) WHY NOT ME – was an even fourth in his career debut for Tim Hamm, who wins 13% second time out.

 

Race Five:

1^st: (2) TAPIT RIGHT – raced evenly in three turf sprint starts at Evangeline Downs. She ships up here and drops down to the bottom for Carl Deville, who wins 13% off medium rest and 12% with his overall claimers.

2^nd: (6) EVERY LITTLE BIT – missed by a neck two starts back when she opened up a clear lead to the deep stretch. She moved up in class and tired badly last out and now drops down in class and distance for Shana Lucarelli.

3^rd: (4) DANCE OR STROLL – horse for the course has won 13 times here over the years.

 

Race Six:

1^st: (7) SUMMERFEST – beat better three starts back when Lasix was added for the first time. He was an even fourth against open company then raced evenly again last out in very fast time. Tim Girten wins 20% with his synthetic-track starters.

2^nd: (6) COMMODORE BARRY – horse for the course drops down in class off some even tries. He raced wide last out from post eight and now drops down in class from a better post. Son of Jump Start has plenty of back class here over the years.

3^rd: (4) WHERE YOU WAS – was only beaten three lengths two starts back in a turf sprint at Penn National then was second last out.

 

Race Seven:

1^st: (6) DECLARED – horse for the course began the year with a good second then won two straight against similar company. He takes off two pounds after beating these last out. John Bourke wins 31% first start after a win.

2^nd: (2) SUN DADDY – horse for the course won two races in a row by narrow margins against better. He was a good third going 10 furlongs last out as the odds-on favorite. Bill Martin wins 24% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

3^rd: (5) PEMAQUID PETE – has won nine times here in 24 starts and romped by seven lengths two starts back.

 

Race Eight:

1^st: (8) SERENADE A KITTEN – just missed against $10K claimers then did nothing on the turf going two turns. She came back four months later and weakened against open allowance foes and drops down to $6,250 claimers today.

2^nd: (2) MERINO WOOL – dominated cheaper here last year, which earned her the right to face allowance foes. She’s been chasing the pace lately and now drops way down in class for Ed Rojas, who is 11-for-25 when Martina Rojas rides.

3^rd: (4) DOMINANT STRANGER – only 1-for-30 here over the years but has eight seconds and four thirds.