Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis For Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023

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

Race One:

1^st: (4) ANTE UP ALEX – rallied for second in his first two starts here. He came back to win and now moves up a notch in class for Maria Bowersock, who wins 15% first start after a win. Antonio Gallardo gets the mount – 20% with his sprint rides.

2^nd: (2) WAPITI WAY – horse for the course just missed two starts back in good time and then won going 5 1/2 furlongs. He moves up in class and distance for Joan Amaya, who wins 42% with her overall claimers and is 3 for 3 when Gaddiel Martinez rides.

3^rd: (6) T C GREELEY – speedball breaking from the outside has the right running style for long sprints here.

 

Race Two:

1^st: (2) RICHIES NOBLE GIRL – beat much better three starts back here going this distance. The daughter of Noble Mission dropped down to this class level and was a good third as the odds-on favorite. Gallardo rides back.

2^nd: (5) THISAINTJUMPSTREET – beat this class and distance three starts back and then was beaten by a half-length in her next two starts. Horse for the course has plenty of back class and gets Erin Walker back aboard.

3^rd: (4) KEYPIT – speedball hasn’t been holding on lately but she is always dangerous on the front end.

 

Race Three:

1^st: (3) GIACOMETTI – has won three of five starts here. He was claimed two starts back and came back to win by eight lengths. Now, he runs against much better for Tim Girten, who wins 23% first start after a win.

2^nd: (4) RAYMOND – gelded son of Into Mischief makes his Tapeta debut for Kevin Fletcher. He showed high speed going two turns on the dirt at Mountaineer Park two starts back and then just missed there going this distance.

3^rd: (2) LEONARD’S LEGACY – made his seasonal debut a winning one but then was third in his next two starts.

 

Race Four:

1^st: (5) STORMIN MELLY – raced evenly against better two starts back when Lasix was added for the first time. She dropped down to this class level but raced wide behind two next-out winners.  

2^nd: (7) JULIETTE FALLS – broke her maiden last year second time out going two turns for the first time. Off for almost eight months, she showed decent speed each time and now drops down while adding blinkers.

3^rd: (1) UPPITY UP – had to drop down to the bottom to break her maiden and then raced wide against this class level.

 

Race Five:

1^st: (4) FLOAT AWAY – was racing well without winning so she dropped down to this claiming level last out and went gate to wire in fast time. She comes back against similar for John Bourke, who wins 30% first start after a win.

2^nd: (1) LISA MARIE – made her seasonal debut a winning one but then did little next out. She turned back to six furlongs and was an even third and then dropped down to this claiming price and rallied for second going this distance.

3^rd: (2) LADY MARVEL – speedball hasn’t been hanging on lately but is always dangerous.

 

Race Six:

1^st: (3) SUMTING RIGHT – after racing against much better company, she dropped down to a similar level and went gate to wire in good time. John Fennessy wins 20% first start after a win and 15% when Mike Allen rides for him.

2^nd: (1) CHARLOTTE THE BRIT – horse for the course has three wins against this claiming group this year. She was claimed two starts back and was an even third as the 2-5 favorite against starter allowance company.

3^rd: (2) MIDNIGHT FROST – moves back up in class off two straight solid efforts here going two turns.

 

Race Seven:

1^st: (7) CALVARY KAT – romped by over three lengths in her very impressive career debut going six furlongs. She came back at two turns and was an even second as the odds-on favorite and now drops back down in distance.  

2^nd: (6) WEST ABBOTT – broke her maiden going five furlongs on a yielding turf course at Penn National two starts back and then raced evenly there against open allowance foes. Flint Stites wins 21% going from turf to synthetic.

3^rd: (2) I’M HEADING EAST – took her nine tries to break her maiden but she came right back to beat restricted claimers.

 

Race Eight:

1^st: (3) FUEL THE BERN – Nine-year-old gelded son of Bernardini has won on dirt, slop, synthetic, and turf. He showed good speed in his last two starts and was confidently claimed two starts back by Scooter Davis – 23% with his overall claiming starters.

2^nd: (4) GRIT AND GLORY – finally made his Tapeta debut at the age of 7 and he battled for the lead until the final yards. His trainer is only 3 for 101 this year but is able to get Pablo Morales to ride.  

3^rd: (6) FARAT – even though he hasn’t been winning, he has the speed ratings to get a piece of this.