Only two weeks, eight race days left in the Presque Isle Downs meet this year, and we kick off the penultimate week with the H.B.P.A Stakes! Let’s see what this stakes Monday has in store.
All times EDT
RACE 1 – 6 furlongs, Maiden Special Weight Post Time: 3:30 p.m
Poll Position (#3) ships in off a Belmont maiden try that didn’t quite agree with her. While she has to transition to a surface she’s never faced, her one turf speed figure is over 20 higher than any of her dirt figures. Tim Girten first-time starters fare well and An Album Cover (#5) worked 5 furlongs in nearly a minute flat. If she can replicate that time in the race, she’ll be dangerous.
Race 1 selections:3-5
RACE 2 – 6 furlongs, Claiming $6,250 Post Time: 3:57
I like the class of Night Ride (#5) in this spot, considering the horse that ran third to him last out came back to win. I also like seeing Edwin Gonzales return to the Erie tapeta. He’s been nearly everywhere since he last rode at PID and it’s good to see his return. Pancho Slips Away (#3) has been in solid form with a win last two starts back and a runner-up last time out. Ransom Money (#6) ran behind the #3 last time out, and I think that race will come back nicely here.
Race 2 selections:5-3-6
RACE 3 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $6,250 Post Time: 4:24
It’s going to be hard to beat Lady Of Lords (#3) and the 61 Beyer Speed Figure she earned in her first try at Presque Isle. I’m not sure what to make of the last race Too Much Fun (#4) came out of but she’s still performed admirably going this distance. I’ll slot Cantora (#6) in for third, as she may have bit off a bit more than she could chew in that $10k claimer at Mountaineer. Three races back, her last start at PID, the horse that was just in front of her in second, Call Me Babe, turned around to break her maiden in her next start.
Race 3 selections:3-4-6
RACE 4 – 1 mile, Maiden Special Weight Post Time: 4:51
All About Soul (#5) should turn his morning line into a warning line, taking a stiff drop in class off the New York circuit to come here. Hide N Watch (#2) made headway in a runner-up effort on his first attempt on the Presque Isle track and Edwin Gonzales is a jockey I’m not in the business of underestimating. Matowy (#6) took a step forward in his first start, and gets leading rider Gaddiel Martinez back aboard.
Race 4 selections:5-2-6
RACE 5 – 6 furlong, Claiming $12,500 Post Time: 5:18
Ryu Mo (#7) caught a class dropper named Stanz Coming last time out, but ran second that day against similar company here. Kid Rich (#1) boasts the highest last-out speed figure here, making him a contender. I can’t help but wonder what the potential of Ipledthefifth (#3) is on an even surface, as the form denotes his last 6 starts have come over speed-favoring courses.
Race 5 selections:7-1-3
RACE 6 – 6 furlongs, Allowance Post Time: 5:45
Woodbine shipper Rock Hard Rose (#4) should have no trouble dispatching this group following 70+ Beyers in her last two starts on the Woodbine all-weather. This isn’t a morning line, but a warning line on Au Corant (#5) at 10-1 after winning back-to-back races over the Erie tapeta. Keep an eye on Trail Of Roses (#1), who turned a half-mile work in 46 seconds.
Race 6 selections:4-5-1
RACE 7 – 1 mile 70 yards, H.B.P.A Stakes Post Time: 6:12
In a field of surface-switchers, I’ll take the proven commodity of Fantastical (#5) who got beat by rival Lupa last time out in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes, and two starts back won the Grade 3 Trillium over the very same rival, Lupa. Keepthedreamalive (#2) has the benefit of home track advantage, being the only horse in this race with a win over this track, and Israel Rodriguez always seems to show up when the lights are brightest. Sheshimaintenance (#11) looks interesting from a speed perspective but her tapeta starts leave much to be desired, leading me to mark her down for third.
Race 7 selections:5-2-11
RACE 8 – 1 mile 70 yards, Allowance Post Time: 6:39
Triple Start (#8) was beaten only by a neck last time out, and is one of two in this field with recent allowance experience, leading me to gravitate more towards him in this spot. The horse that finished just ahead of him in second, Outsider (#2) should be tough on the front end and I suspect it will be a showdown between these two horses in the stretch. I think the top-2 streak for Van (#6) comes to an end with the class raise but I expect him to get up for third.
Race 8 selections:8-2-6
See you next tomorrow for more Presque Isle Downs action!
