Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023

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

Race One:

1st: (5) SAMURAI LEGACY – horse for the course has won 10 times here, and he is only seven years old. He went gate to wire two starts back in a long sprint then raced evenly. Now, he drops to the bottom, which he beat the last two times he faced them.

2nd: (6) CHAMPION BY DESIGN – ran well behind the top choice back in August. After two even efforts, he came from way back to miss by less than a length after an awkward start. Gerry Brooks wins 18% on synthetic tracks.

3rd: (4) QUARTERMASTER– rallied from way back to win going away for John Bourke, who wins 39% with Angel Stanley.

Race Two:

1st: (6) DISASTER RECOVERY – did nothing in his first three career starts but almost went gate to wire when dropped in class. He came back against this level and almost went gate to wire after setting a slow pace.

2nd: (5) REACTIVE – improved a lot second time out going two turns for the first time then was a good second against fillies. Daughter of Ghostzapper takes on open company again for Eoin Harty. Antonio Gallardo rides — 19% with route mounts.

3rd: (2) VARIABLE COST – tries Tapeta after three turf races in New York. Son of Kingman draws inside with Pablo Morales.

Race Three:

1st: (5) CASTLE BORN – still a maiden after 22 tries but showed signs of hope here last out when she was a close second in her Presque Isle debut. She comes back and meets the same maiden claiming level, and a winless trainer is able to get Gallardo. 

2nd: (2) ORPHAN EXCHANGE – was outrun against better two starts in a row here then dropped down to this maiden claiming level and was an even third. She has little gate speed so Gaddiel Martinez will have to save ground and find some room in the stretch.

3rd: (8) RIA FORMOSA – made a strong middle move before weakening going two turns in her Presque Isle debut last out.

Race Four:

1st: (4) SOUL OF THE BEAST – went gate to wire second time out here against bottom maiden claimers. She came back and beat conditioned claimers from post 10 and now meets a little bit better company for Gerry Brooks.

2nd: (1) I’M HEADING EAST – broke his maiden here then came right back and beat modest state-bred claimers. She just missed against state-bred allowance foes but did little last out so she drops way down in class here for Ed Rojas.

3rd: (2) LISA MARIE – was second against this class level two starts in a row then her late rally fell just short.

Race Five:

1st: (3) FLASHY TOO – has been up and down the class ladder all year. She had two decent efforts in off-the-turf events at Delaware Park then shipped here and beat open allowance foes. Now, she drops down to state-bred ones with Willie Martinez back.

2nd: (6) VACCINA – could not hold on against this level two starts back going six furlongs then stretched out to a mile and won by five lengths in very fast time. She looks like she needs the lead to do her best so Gaddiel Martinez will be on a mission.

3rd: (4) NATURE TRAIL – was a decent second two starts back going this distance then won at six furlongs last out.

Race Six:

1st: (3) CHARLOTTE THE BRIT – horse for the course was an even third going six furlongs then stretched out and went gate to wire. She moves up a notch in class off the claim by Ed Rojas, who wins 26% with this move.

2nd: (7) BABY DRAGON – beat similar here two starts back going this distance then came back and went gate to wire in a long sprint against open allowance foes. She stretches back out in distance while dropping down in class for Randy Russell.

3rd: (6) LUNAR ICE – won her Tapeta debut here four starts back then came back and did it again.

Race Seven:

1st: (6) HOT FUDGE WARRIOR – speedball went gate to wire two of her last three starts on the dirt at Penn National. She was dominant last out against state-bred allowance foes and now moves up to open allowance foes for Todd Beattie.

2nd: (1) SHORTY MAC – ran well in a series of turf sprints at Penn National then came here and beat state-bred allowance foes going gate to wire. She draws the rail and gets Erin Walker — 15% with her sprint rides.

3rd: (4) HOT BODE – rallied from far back to win going away against bottom claimers then was a good second when moved up.

Race Eight:

1st: (3) STRONG HEADED – was beaten 59 lengths two starts back going 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Delaware Park then shipped here and rallied for second when dropped down to this level. Tim Girten wins 39% first start after being beaten as the favorite.

2nd: (2) KICKS ON SIXTY SIX – showed some speed before weakening going six furlongs two starts back then stretched out to two turns and was a good second after chasing the pace.

3rd: (6) AULT – horse for the course was an even fourth two starts back then was second against this level.