Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024

Dick Powell handicaps Wednesday's card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1:

1st: (3) DR RAGS – just missed at this level in his second start on Tapeta two back and exits a rallying third behind two next-out winners. He draws much better today for Cassandra Judd, who wins 17% with her overall claimers.    

2nd: (6) KEYSTONE HANK – beat much better back in June but has done little since then. After an even third two starts back, he lost all chance when breaking last most recently. 

3rd: (2) ROBO WARRIOR – romped in fast time last out here and comes back against the same group.  

Race 2:

1st: (1) KAGERO – won by a head as the 3-5 favorite two starts back and raced evenly against similar company last time. He can stalk the pace while saving ground for John Fennessy, who wins 13% with his synthetic-track starters and 25% with Walber Alencar over the last 60 days.  

2nd: (2) GREEN CHILE – broke her maiden on Tapeta in January at Turfway Park. This daughter of Ghostzapper has improved in all three starts here this season, and a repeat of his last start will have her right there. 

3rd: (6) MAGIC LIFE – does her best running when she guns to the front, so Gaddiel Martinez knows what to do. 

Race 3:

1st: (6) STARSHIP BELMONT – went gate to wire to win by five-plus lengths when setting a slow pace two starts back and came back with a good third when chasing a blistering pace. She drops down in class for Colleen Walsh and gets Erin Walker.  

2nd: (2) LA PANDA – horse for the course returned to the races with an even effort on the turf at Colonial Downs and missed by a length here last out. She moves up in class off the claim by Teresa Connelly, who goes with Pablo Morales. 

3rd: (5) LET’S BE HONEST – ran evenly against this class level going six furlongs and then showed good speed at two turns. 

Race 4:

1st: (5) DREAMFUL – opened up a big lead before being run down here in only her second start of the year. This daughter of Kitten’s Joy has shown the ability to relax in the past, and Bill Martin wins 19% first start after being beaten as the favorite. 

2nd: (4) VANILLA BEAN – added blinkers and was a good second at 2-1 when she surged to the lead turning for home last out. She has some past races that are good enough to beat these, and Addiel Ayala rides back for Mike Rogers. 

3rd: (3) MAIDEN LANE – stretches out to two turns off a quartet of six-furlong sprints, with three against this conditioned claiming level. 

Race 5:

1st: (7) NEGRA GATA turned in a pair of even efforts on dirt after being claimed for $40,000 by Linda Rice last year, but she will drop way down in class for her Presque Isle debut after opening 2024 with a poor showing at Saratoga.  

2nd: (9) SLAINTE MHATH – turns back to a sprint after running well in three tries going two turns against this maiden claiming level. Her first two starts here this season were good enough to beat these if she can keep up early.    

3rd: (3) PRECIOUS GRACE – did nothing in her first two career starts on turf, then improved a lot going six furlongs at this level over the Tapeta.

Race 6:

1st: (4) WHY NOT ME – broke his maiden in his seventh career start going a mile on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs. He came back here two months ago and won by more than six lengths in fast time. Tim Hamm wins 21% off medium rest and spots him well. 

2nd: (3) HIGH HEADED – just missed against this claiming level, then dropped down in class and won going away as the odds-on favorite. He ran poorly last out and now moves back up in class off the claim by Teresa Connelly. 

3rd: (7) REAPPLY – only poor effort in his last three was when he dropped back to six furlongs. 

Race 7:

1st: (5) REELED IN – made a strong middle move before flattening out two starts back and got up by a neck last out. He faces open allowance foes for Bill Martin, who wins 18% first start after a win and goes with Morales.  

2nd: (2) KOTYLOS – put blinkers back on three starts back and he beat state-bred allowance foes. After an even third in very fast time, he came back with a game win for Brooke Bays, who is a good fit.  

3rd: (6) STRAIGHTOUTADUTTON – horse for the course has run well here against this allowance level two of his last three starts. 

Race 8:

1st: (7) FLASHINTHENIGHT – opened up a big lead before getting caught two starts back and showed high speed again when moved up in class. He drops down to bottom claimers for Katy Cheeks, who wins 13% with her sprinters.  

2nd: (8) WAPITI WAY – was an even third against better in his first start off the claim by Kevin Rice. He raced evenly next out and then dropped back down with a good third. Rice wins 21% first start after being beaten as the favorite.   

3rd: (9) JUST WATCH ME NOW – missed by a head two starts back and could not overcome post 11 last time.