It’s the final week of the Presque Isle meet, and everyone is trying to get that one last win to end the season on a high note. Bigger fields mean more fun and more chaos at the betting window, so I’m ecstatic to see what Monday’s card has in store.
All times EDT
RACE 1 – 6 furlongs, Maiden Claiming $7,500 Post Time: 3:30 p.m
Twirlaway (#3) is the right horse to have marked for favoritism here, with trouble in the stretch two starts back and finishing second to a horse named I’ve Had Enough making their second career start. I’m going to try and beat her with Mi Babe (#5), who was only narrowly beaten out by the #3 by a head last time out. Ennereilly (#1) probably got me with the workout times, but I would hope to see improvement in her third start since the layoff, as well as changing jockeys to Addiel Ayala.
Race 1 selections:3-5-1
RACE 2 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $5,000 Post Time: 3:57
Hits Different (#7) has had an incredible 6-year-old season, hitting the board in all of her starts and scoring a win last time out. Omikami (#3) appears to be the only horse on paper that can stand up to the #7, and she’s got some class receipts to prove her strength, racing horses like stakes winner Justifiable Steel, Xmas In Cairo and last time out losing to New Issue. Love Thyself (#2) is my longshot pick here, with a fairly consistent record at this distance but has to change surfaces to tapeta for the first time, in addition to coming out of a relatively unremarkable $9k claimer at Finger Lakes.
Race 2 selections:7-3-2
RACE 3 – 1 mile 70 yards, Maiden Special Weight Post Time: 4:24
Minotaur (#5) was a horse I touted last time out and the maiden race he came out of was well-received by the speed-figure makers, Minotaur himself earning a 75 Beyer for his fourth-place finish. He will have to face Mr. Bobo (#1), who turned similar numbers at Turfway Park this winter in a pair of fourth-place finishes. Carnival Lad (#4) for Eion Harty is a relatively unproven horse, and I like seeing him get the same rider he had on debut. If you can get this Not This Time son at 10-1, I’d take it.
Race 3 selections:5-1-4
RACE 4 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $5,000 Post Time: 4:51
Longtime readers will already know I’m biased to Silent Diva (#1) and that I’ll mention her anytime she’s racing. She also leads a group of horses in this race with a second place run from a similar race on October 5th. If I like Omikami in the second race, I have to lean towards New Issue (#8) as well. Out of her last race (which she won) four of the five horses that have run back finished in the money (with the other finishing 4th). Float Away (#4) has come alive in recent starts under the hold of Cierra Pruitt, and their renewed partnership here has me thinking this horse has a shot to hit the board.
Race 4 selections:1-8-4
RACE 5 – 6 furlongs, Claiming $8,500 Post Time: 5:18
Half Birthday (#6) has everything you want in a horse to single for a multi-race wager: three straight wins, same jockey for all of them that rides today, and dropping out of optional claiming company. Unfortunately, I suspect that winning streak will come to an end with the extension out to 6 furlongs, a distance he hasn’t run all season. These Apples (#2) could be overlooked even at the short price of 3-1, considering he ran into next-out allowance winner Night Nurse and Time For An Angel, a horse I’m particularly high on. Tour Jete (#1) hasn’t exactly impressed in two PID starts but there’s promise with the cutback in distance today.
Race 5 selections:2-6-1
RACE 6 – 6 furlongs, Allowance Optional Claiming Post Time: 5:45
I’m slotting Cougar Cocktail (#2) into third, as this horse has to make the surface switch as a potentially heavy favorite. My winning pick is Smooch Up (#7), who’s worked very well since the Lady Erie Stakes, which saw four horses come out of that race to win or run second. Wherever We Are (#6) is a tough horse to beat with three straight victories but I like the potential price on the #7 to justify knocking the #6 down to second here.
Race 6 selections:7-6-2
RACE 7 – 6 furlongs, Allowance Optional Claiming Post Time: 6:12
Vasa (#6) has never lost at this distance and drops to optional claiming company. Wow Whata Party (#4) will be a tough horse to beat, coming out of the very classy Power By Far Stakes from Masters day. The Boy’s Warrior (#3) won his first start following the Power By Far but I wonder if the rider change will slow him down.
Race 7 selections:6-4-3
RACE 8 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $6,250 Post Time: 6:39
I’ll take Starlit Sky (#4) at 6-1 on the morning line, as she’s done her better running in larger fields and was only three lengths off a tough horse called Hits Different. Apicturesworth (#6) made her first start at PID a winning one and should be competitive again in this spot. Nan O’Hara (#5) only lost by a neck last time out but I think circumstances will cause her to only hit the board here.
Race 8 selections:4-6-5
See you tomorrow for more Presque Isle Downs action!
