Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Dick Powell offers his picks and analysis for the Presque Isle Downs racing card on Wednesday.

Race One:

1^st: (1) EXTRA MEDIUM – finished up 2022 with a narrow win in fast time against this claiming level. He came back here last out off the long layoff with an even third. Addiel Ayala rides back – 17% with his sprint mounts.

2^nd: (5) ORAZIO – rallied from far off the pace to win going away against this claiming level going two turns at Turfway Park. He raced evenly here last out and now turns back to a long sprint for trainer Shelly Radosevich, who wins 22% second start off the layoff.

3^rd: (4) CAPTAIN MAD JACK – horse for the course is only 1 for 17 the past two years but he does have decent early speed.

 

Race Two:

1^st: (5) A BIT OF CAPTAIN – first-time starter from trainer Tim Hamm, who wins 15% with his debut runners. By new sire Coal Front, he is out of a winning dam by Discreet Cat that has produced three winners from three foals to race.  

2^nd: (6) GOING UP – first-time starter from Ron Potts who wins 12% with his debut runners. This son of Mineshaft (8% debut winners) is out of a dam by Silent Name (12% debut winners) that has produced two winners from three foals to race.

3^rd: (2) ANOTHERDAYOFWORK – raced evenly here in her career debut and now faces males.

 

Race Three:

1^st: (2) KENJI’S EMPIRE – showed high speed in his well-bet career debut going two turns on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs. He returned here and tired after five furlongs when moved up in class. Now he drops in class with Lasix added.    

2^nd: (4) GOVERNOR ATWOOD – finished up last season with a much improved second and then came back seven months later to hold on for second despite being used hard from post one. He moves up a notch in class for trainer Randy Russell.

3^rd: (3) STARSTREET – was a good second as the beaten favorite in his career debut on the dirt at Laurel back in February.

 

Race Four:

1^st: (6) LUCA AT THE SPA – raced evenly going two turns on the dirt at Penn National two starts back and then tired after being hung out wide from post 10. He drops down a notch in class for Ed Rojas, who wins 22% second start out of his barn.

2^nd: (4) GYPSY KITTEN – raced evenly here in his PID debut for Gerry Brooks going 5 1/2 furlongs and you would think that a son of Kitten’s Joy out of a dam by Victory Gallop should be able to stretch out to two turns.   

3^rd: (1) UP FOR THE CHANCE – has been out of the money for his last eight starts but he has some decent speed ratings.  

 

Race Five:

1^st: (2) ABBEY’S SNOW WHITE – horse for the course is still going strong at the age of 10. She ran well this time last year and already had a decent prep race over the track for this.  

2^nd: (6) SWEET MOOCHIE – winless in 10 starts here but she had some decent efforts here last year against this class level. She’s been going two turns on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs this year. Mike Allen rides back for trainer Lisa Allen.

3^rd: (4) DON’T MAKE ME BEG – woke up last start with a good second from off the pace.

 

Race Six:

1^st: (6) MISS EASY – went gate to wire to break her maiden first time out as the odds-on favorite on a wet track at Thistledown. She came back and tired last out for Tim Hamm, who wins 21% first time dropping down to claiming company.   

2^nd: (2) SWEET AMY – broke her maiden two starts back going six furlongs in very good time last October. She was a good third last out and now drops back in class for Glenn Wismer, who wins 22% with his synthetic-track starters.  

3^rd: (1) SHUT IT CALI – tries Tapeta for the first time after four decent starts on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs.  

 

Race Seven:

1^st: (3) YANKEE DOLLAR – ran extremely well on the turf at Turf Paradise, including a stakes win at a mile. She just missed going two turns on the dirt in a stakes race in New Mexico and seems to have a big class edge against these.   

2^nd: (1) HAPPY BEE – ran well here last year going two turns against similar company. She’s had two wins in a row on the dirt at Mahoning Valley this year for Mike Pappada, who wins 15% going from dirt to synthetic.    

3^rd: (5) LENTEN ROSE – very solid turf mare makes her Tapeta debut for Ron Potts, who wins 27% with this surface switch.

 

Race Eight:

1^st: (5) BIG THORN – finished up last year with some strong dirt efforts against better company. He did nothing in his Tapeta debut at Turfway Park, but that was at the end of a long season with 13 starts and he’s been working very well here.    

2^nd: (7) KICKS ON SIXTY SIX – raced evenly going short and then ran well when stretched out to two turns to finish up last season. Off for 230 days, the son of Liam’s Map returns in a sprint for Randy Russell, who shows a flat-bet profit returning off long layoffs.

3^rd: (1) HALF BIRTHDAY – could be dangerous if she can break running from post one with David Delgado.