Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, July 5, 2023

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

 

Race One:

1^st: (7) LITTLE BIG – has been showing speed against better maidens without much success but shipped here and was a good third going five furlongs. He dropped down to bottom maiden claimers and won by over three lengths as the 3-2 favorite last out.

2^nd: (3) HUNTIN' THE RUT – returns off a 253-day layoff and drops way down in class. He just missed beating high-class optional claimers going two turns then tired badly last out. He drops way down in class for Cathy Rozantz.

3^rd: (5) SPAN OF CONTROL – gelded son of Into Mischief has a decent record on Tapeta out of town at Gulfstream Park.

 

Race Two:

1^st: (6) FLOAT AWAY – returned to the races off a long layoff and promptly broke her maiden by four lengths then came back against this conditioned claiming level to run second. She gets in light with red-hot Martina Rojas picking up the mount.

2^nd: (7) ASPLUNDER – almost overcame a slow start from post one two starts back here when he just missed as the 2-1 favorite. He came back with an even effort for Leland Hayes, who wins 15% with his overall synthetic-track starters.

3^rd: (2) ARGYLL – broke his maiden against cheap maidens to finish up last season then ran well here against these.

 

Race Three:

1^st: (2) COMMODORE BARRY – horse for the course already has three starts here this year. He was beaten a length two starts back against these state-bred claimers then was a game second against open allowance foes going this distance in fast time.   

2^nd: (6) JEN’S SONG – horse for the course has won 11 times here and placed 19 other times. He returned at the age of 10 to beat this state-bred claiming level and comes back against the same group with Willie Martinez back aboard.

3^rd: (1) SHAKIN IT UP LARRY – did little in his first start off the long layoff but bounced back and just missed against these.

 

Race Four:

1^st: (2) HARD COUNT – was an even fourth two starts back and was claimed for $20K. He moved up to $25K and showed speed to the deep stretch and now drops way down in class. Addiel Ayala picks up the mount for the first time.

2^nd: (6) A COTSWOLD VILLAGE – ran poorly in three starts on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs. Claimed for $12.5K, he shipped here and was a good third against $8K claimers and now moves up in class for Scooter Davis.

3^rd: (8) HEY PADRE – just missed two starts back in his Presque Isle debut against open allowance foes last September.

 

Race Five:

1^st: (8) PAYNTED WARRIOR – returned off a five-month layoff with a sharp win against state-bred allowance foes then held well against open company when Lasix was added. He drops in class for Tim Girten, who wins 23% third start off the layoff.

2^nd: (2) GENEVIEVE’S Z VA – speedball has been doing well going two turns, but she has won four times at today’s distance. Off for 252 days, she returns for Cathy Rozantz, who is 0-for-17 in this spot but gets in light with Martina Rojas.

3^rd: (4) SHOSHANAH – had a good season here last year and prepped for this with a good win in a turf sprint at Penn National.

 

Race Six:

1^st: (1) JILL JITTERBUG – has run well on three different Tapeta tracks, including a close second going six furlongs in a stakes race at Woodbine last out. Daughter of Cross Traffic has big, late kick and takes off 11 pounds with Alice Beckman aboard.

2^nd: (6) BABY NO WORRIES – raced on the Tapeta at Turfway Park this winter then was third in a grade three stakes race at Wooodbine. Tim Girten wins 27% with his overall allowance runners, and he goes with Antonio Gallardo again.

3^rd: (2) MARISSA’S LADY – speedball hasn’t been hanging on since they moved her up in class, so she gets relief today.

 

Race Seven:

1^st: (5) SWEET AMY – beat open $25K claimers in her first start off the long layoff then moved up to this open allowance level and was only beaten a length after chasing a fast pace. Glenn Wismer wins 25% with his synthetic-track starters.

2^nd: (8) QUARTERFLASH – her late rally fell a neck short against this open allowance level then came back as the 13-10 favorite and ran the same race. She gets a longer distance today for Tim Girten, who wins 40% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

3^rd: (6) KRISPY RICE – raced wide in her last two starts here but should be sharper in her third start off the layoff.

 

Race Eight:

1^st: (1) RED PIXIE – after being beaten by 23 lengths two starts back on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs, she came back here four weeks later and won going away by over seven lengths. She meets the same group and draws the rail again.

2^nd: (3) TWISTED TREASURE – won four times on the turf against better before making her Tapeta debut here and won going this distance in good time. She drops down to bottom claimers and gets Scott Spieth back aboard.

3^rd: (9) RED VENUS – drops down in class and ships in from Arizona for Marcus Vitali. Daughter of Candy Ride gets Martina Rojas.