Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday June 26, 2024

Dick Powell outlines his selections for Wednesday’s card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race One:

1st: (4) BOTITA – returned to the races off a 16-month layoff and held well after pressing the pace here going six furlongs against this maiden claiming level. She should be fitter second time out and going a bit shorter.  

2nd: (6) BLAH BLAH WORLD – raced evenly off a 19-month layoff here against one class better, then came back against this group and was second as the 3-2 favorite. Erin Walker rides back – 15% with her sprint rides and they show a flat-bet profit.  

3rd: (2) CUPID MISSED – speedy filly drops down in class for her third start of the year for Ron Potts. 

Race Two:

1st: (3) MAIDEN LANE – raced evenly in her first start off a short break and drops down in class for Tim Hamm, who wins 25% first time against open claimers and 21% on synthetic tracks. This daughter of Street Sense broke her maiden here last September.   

2nd: (4) CLOUD IN THE WIND – broke her maiden on the dirt at Penn National, then raced third here the past two starts against this conditioned claiming level. Tim Girten wins 17% with his claimers and 33% when he rides Pablo Morales. 

3rd: (1) WOK DON’T RUN – was a good second as the even-money favorite off the claim for Marcus Vitali. 

Race Three:

1st: (5) HEAVEN RULES – returns to the races off a 352-day layoff after running second in her career debut here. She’s been training well for this and showed last year that she can run well fresh.  

2nd: (4) LOVE RESTRAINED – did nothing from post 12 in a turf sprint last October at Aqueduct. Off for seven months, she rallied from off the pace to miss by a neck. Pablo Morales rides back. 

3rd: (3) FLEUR DELACOUR – was soundly beaten in two starts on the dirt, then shipped back here and was second. 

Race Four:

1st: (6) STARSHIP MACYS – horse for the course returned off an eight-month layoff and opened up a big lead before weakening going this distance. She comes back against the same group with Erin Walker picking up the mount. 

2nd: (5) DOMINANT STRANGER – still racing against conditioned $6,250 claimers at the age of eight but she is a gem of consistency. After running third in her first start of the year, she just missed going short and now stretches out in distance. 

3rd: (7) ELSA’S ROCKET – showed little in her first start of the year, then rallied for second going this distance. 

Race Five:

1st: (6) GENERAL WINSTON – keeps racing against this claiming level and until he gets claimed will continue to do so. He just missed going gate to wire here in very fast time in his first start of the year. 

2nd: (5) THE SINNER IS YOU – horse for the course rallied from just off the pace to win going away, then was an even third when moved up a bit in class for Ed Rojas, who wins 27% with his overall claimers and 26% third start off the layoff. 

3rd: (2) CHEWING GUM – Nine-year-old makes his Tapeta debut off a series of strong workouts here. 

Race Six:

1st: (1) NEW WAYS TO DREAM – dropped down to this class level the past two starts here and held well after disputing the pace. She draws the rail again with Willie Martinez back aboard.  

2nd: (4) JULIETTE FALLS – has been running erratically in her two starts here this year but she has some closing kick which might be enough. Israel Rodriguez rides back so he should be ready for her antics. 

3rd: (3) IRISH VICTORY – went gate to wire last out here in her first start off the long layoff for the Spieths. 

Race Seven:

1st: (1) GAVEL – son of Into Mischief broke his maiden in an off-the-turf effort two starts back at Hawthorne, then shipped here and ran second after pressing the pace. Larry Rivelli wins 35% third start off the layoff. 

2nd: (3) OUTSIDER – rallied from way back to get up in time in his well-bet career debut. He worked well for that race so he might not bounce off the effort and could handle the move up against allowance foes.   

3rd: (6) JIGGERY POKERY – raced evenly two starts back here, then was a game second last out. 

Race Eight:

1st: (5) ATROCIOUS – did little in his first two career starts on the dirt, then shipped here and was a troubled third. The son of Ghostzapper was a good third last out here for Kevin Rice, who wins 29% third start off the layoff. 

2nd: (2) IRISH STONE – ran well off the layoff with Lasix added two starts back, then raced wide last out. He draws inside today and should be fit for John Bourke, who wins 31% third start off the layoff.  

3rd: (11) STREAMSONG – has two decent starts this season here going two turns but has a tough post to overcome.