Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023

Dick Powell gives his selections and analysis for Presque Isle Downs for Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Race One:

1^st: (4) FACE DOWN – Two-year-old gelding has already had four career starts and they were all about the same. The son of the speedy Speightster draws in the middle with Gaddiel Martinez. Tim Girten wins 22% with his overall maiden claimers.

2^nd: (6) NOW I’M HERE – Filly takes on boys but she could be sneaky good at a price. Both sire and broodmare sire are young so there’s not much data on them but her dam had some speed and she is working nice and easy for this.

3^rd: (2) FACE IT ALONE – filly by Hoppertunity is out of a dam that was a winner and gets jockey Erin Walker.

 

Race Two:

1^st: (5) YOUMUSTBEA WEASLEY – only has two wins in 21 starts here, but has six seconds and five thirds so he definitely likes it here. Kevin Rice wins 18% with his overall claimers and 21% when he rides Gaddiel Martinez.

2^nd: (3) GOOSE HUNTER – added Lasix for the first time and it worked wonders as he beat state-bred allowance foes going six furlongs in good time. He has enough cruising speed to indicate he will be able to handle two turns with Martina Rojas.

3^rd: (4) HE’S A GOOD DANCER – beat cheaper going two turns earlier this year and was a good third with these last out.

 

Race Three:

1^st: (5) DIGITAL FOOTPRINT – raced evenly in his first two starts this year and then dropped down to this level with a pair of seconds. Matt Kintz wins 17% going long and with his synthetic-track starters. This son of Giant’s Causeway fits well with these.

2^nd: (6) GREG’S HONOR – horse for the course has a similar pattern to the top choice and finished behind him in the last two starts. Gerry Brooks wins 18% with his synthetic-track starters and 14% going long.

3^rd: (3) PATRIOT DRIVE – only has one win in his last 17 starts but all except the last start came against better.

 

Race Four:

1^st: (2) VALIANT VICTORIA – showed high speed second time out and led to the final yards. She came back and faded after a half-mile last out. Gary Wales is only winning 4% on the year but 11% when he rides for trainer John Fennessy.

2^nd: (1) KAGERO – woke up when Lasix was added three starts back. She raced evenly in her next two starts including a fourth against open maidens last out. Fennessy wins 12% with his maiden claimers and 11% on synthetic tracks.

3^rd: (6) IMFREEFALLIN – moves up a notch in class after racing evenly after a sluggish start in his career debut at the age of five.

 

Race Five:

1^st: (5) A BIT OF CAPTAIN – did little in his first two career starts and then showed much better speed last out when he was a close second. The son of Coal Front is out of a dam by Discreet Cat that has produced three winners from three other foals to race.

2^nd: (3) SOUPER CRUNCHY – first-time starter from Mike Trombetta who wins 9% with his debut runners. This son of Candy Ride (12% debut winners) is out of a dam by Congrats (10% debut winners) that is a half-sister to grade one stakes winner Win Win Win.

3^rd: (1) LAST MINUTE – first-time starter from Larry Rivelli who wins 20% with his debut runners.

 

Race Six:

1^st: (5) RUSTY MY BROTHER – won her first two starts here back in May and then was a good third against state-bred stakes foes two starts back. She romped against first-level allowance foes last out in her two-turn debut.

2^nd: (4) MALDIVES MODEL – won a state-bred stakes race last out going two turns but the time was kind of slow. She gets Lasix back on and draws in the middle for Cassandra Judd – 10% with her synthetic-track starters.

3^rd: (2) TACTICAL PAJAMAS – horse for the course just missed against the aforementioned state-bred stakes foes last out.

 

Race Seven:

1^st: (5) MARLEY LUCK – broke his maiden here in his second start on Tapeta and then came back with an even third in a very fast time against this allowance level. Tim Hamm wins 20% with his allowance starters and 18% with his sprinters.

2^nd: (7) OUTHUSTLE – broke his maiden by over five lengths from post 11 in his career debut and then he came back to beat conditioned claimers as the even-money favorite. Randy Russell wins 16% first start after a win.

3^rd: (8) PUTTHEBLAMEONME – raced inconsistently on the dirt but shipped here and was a good second in fast time.

 

Race Eight:

1^st: (8) GRAVE DANGER – finally broke his maiden here and then came right back and won. He didn’t run badly when moved up in class but then dropped down to this class level and was beaten a half-length. Matt Kintz wins 17% going long.

2^nd: (1) JUST PRAISE – rallied from 12 lengths behind to miss by a head and then won by a head in sluggish time. He moves up a notch in class but draws the rail. John Guciardo wins 29% third start off the layoff.

3^rd: (5) LONG RAP SHEET – horse for the course woke up here in his last two starts for Team Rojas.