Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023

 Dick Powell offers his selections for the Wednesday card at Presque Isle Downs.

 

Race One:

1^st: (7) HINDENBURG – has been on the improve culminating with a sharp win last out against this claiming price. He should be able to work out a clear, stalking trip from here with Martina Rojas. Gerry Brooks wins 16% first start after a win.

2^nd: (5) COUNTRY RUCKUS – has been running poorly on the dirt in his last two starts. He drops down to a more reasonable level and shows a prior win here in decent time. Erin Walker picks up the mount – 18% with her sprint rides.

3^rd: (1) THOUSAND LOVES – showed good speed here two starts back but then did little last out against this level.

 

Race Two:

1^st: (5) BABY DRAGON – returned to the races off a long layoff here and just missed with a strong late rally. She ran a similar race last out and now drops down in class for Randy Russell, who is only 1 for 11 with this move.

2^nd: (6) QUEEN WIGGY – beat state-bred allowance foes in his first start off the long layoff and then tired in her next two starts against open $25K claimers. She drops down in class for Tim Girten, who wins 18% with this dropdown.

3^rd: (3) HAZARD – broke her maiden at 30-1 two starts back and then came right back to beat cheap claimers.

 

Race Three:

1^st: (3) ROTONDO – was a good third in her well-bet career debut here going five furlongs and now has the benefit of a race under her belt. Tim Hamm wins 13% second time out and 21% with his overall synthetic-track starters.

2^nd: (1) SWEET LILIBET – first-time starter from Ryan Walsh, who wins 10% against this maiden level. This daughter of Violence (18% debut winners) is out of a stakes-placed dam that ran well here and has produced a stakes winner on Tapeta at Woodbine.

3^rd: (7) R B’S TIGER – first-time starter from Tim Girten, who wins 24% with his debut runners and against this maiden level.

 

Race Four:

1^st: (4) EVERY LITTLE BIT – finished up last season with a terrific gate-to-wire win going six furlongs in fast time. Off for over nine months, she showed good speed before weakening here last out and drops down a notch in class.

2^nd: (7) CHARLOTTE THE BRIT – horse for the course has won three of four starts against this claiming level, and as long as she doesn’t get claimed, Ed Rojas keeps running her back. Amazingly, she was not favored in the three races she won.

3^rd: (6) CHEROKEE CHATTER – horse for the course drops down in class after dueling for the lead from post one.

 

Race Five:

1^st: (3) PROPER MANNERS – tough seven-year-old mare has four placings this year but no wins, so she drops down to the bottom for Ron Potts, who wins 19% with his overall claimers. Ron Allen, Jr. rides back – 29% when he rides for Potts.

2^nd: (8) LADY MARVEL – winless in 18 tries here but she always seems to get bet and she just missed last out after opening up a five-length lead going six furlongs. She will be tough if Mike Allen can break her on top.

3^rd: (1) ABBEY’S SNOW WHITE – horse for the course just missed two starts back in an effort that can beat these.

 

Race Six:

1^st: (2) BARNEGAT LIGHT – pressed the pace before weakening two starts back and then won going away as the odds-on favorite when dropped down to this claiming level. Tim Hamm wins 21% first start after a win and gets Pablo Morales back aboard.

2^nd: (4) DANEFIELD – tired after six furlongs in a state-bred stakes race on the turf at Belterra and then came back here and crushed $13.5K claimers by almost five lengths. He moves up in class and distance for John Bourke, who wins 31% first start after a win.

3^rd: (3) THE BLACK STRAT – after racing in Arizona, he shipped here and just missed going gate to wire against better.

 

Race Seven:

1^st: (7) RAINBOW’S PRIDE – woke up some when blinkers were added three starts back on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs and then he raced evenly here. Last out, he was a determined maiden winner for Tim Hamm, who brings him back three weeks later.

2^nd: (2) COMMODORE BARRY – horse for the course was a good second against this open allowance group two starts back and then ran about the same race when dropped down in class. He has enough early speed to work out an inside stalking trip.

3^rd: (3) YOUMUSTBEA WEASLEY – beat state-bred allowance foes last out and now tries open company again.

 

Race Eight:

1^st: (5) ADIOS BOBBY – horse for the course beat this claiming level at this distance the last time he faced them. In over his head the last two starts here, he takes the logical drop in class for Mike Pappada, who wins 23% with Erin Walker.

2^nd: (2) LEAVE ‘EM LOADED – been almost a year since visiting the winner’s circle but he showed signs of life last out when he disputed the pace right to the finish. Pablo Morales rides back for Tim Girten – 42% together.

3^rd: (6) SIDE TRACKED – horse for the course has a solid record as long as he is racing against $5K claimers.