It’s Avery Whisman Memorial Stakes day at Presque Isle and ITM has you covered right here. Lets jump right into stakes action on this card
All times EDT
RACE 1 – 5 furlongs, Starter Optional Claiming $10k Post Time: 3:30 p.m
Valiant Victoria (#1) was felled last time out in this company by Kanazawa (#6) and I expect these two to run together again. The #6 seems the likelier option, showing clear development from three to four years old and running the field off their feet last time out. The #1 will be tough again but won’t run uncontested like she’d like to. Half Birthday (#3) should be able to sit off the two speed horses and stay on for third, but I don’t see the top pair running out of gas.
Race 1 selections:6-1-3
RACE 2 – 5 /12 furlongs, Maiden Special Weight Post Time: 3:57
There are no Clocker Reports to check out for Presque Isle (though DRF should look into that) so judging times with no comments can be tough at times. There’s little doubt, however, about the legitimacy of the 35.2 second work over 3 furlongs for Miguel Clement’s Love Yourz (#2), and with the recent passing of Girvin, I’ll let my heart choose this bay filly by the late sire. Castle Dark (#3) has always trained well and he puts together another work of 46.2 seconds over a half-mile, and I expect she’ll be keen to break her maiden in her third start. Maximus Potential (#1) doesn’t have flashy sub-36 second works but has steadily worked well and turned a 5-furlong work in a nice minute, so I’ll slot her in for third.
Race 2 selections:2-3-1
RACE 3 – 6 furlongs, Claiming $6,250 Post Time: 4:24
The big names keep on rolling on Avery Whismer with Mike Maker’s My Life Story (#2) who wears the yellow-and-rose of Michael Dubb, possibly the hottest owner in the game right now with a slew of winners in Saratoga. This horse has faced tougher before at Turfway Park and fended them off, giving me confidence in his ability over the all-weather. Turf Cat (#6) will want a piece of that early pace and will have to prove he can be bothered on the lead if he wants to win, but I think he’s a decent second choice. If Inchon (#3) stays around the 9-2 morning line, I want him on my tickets. His Beyer Speed Figures are comparable to the #2 though he might fit better at a shorter going.
Race 3 selections:2-6-3
RACE 4 – 1 mile 70 yards, Maiden Claiming $7,500 Post Time: 4:51
Double Up Larry (#6) was well-liked by the BSF team, rating a 46 for his effort last time out after doing very little in his two other starts. Michael Pappada has a great ROI with extending sprinters ($3.24, 24% win rate) and that makes Frenchman James (#3) a horse I’ll want to key in on for second. Tinseltown (#2) comes back from a month off with a 46 and 3 work over a half-mile, and might need this race as a workout to run into form somewhere down the line, but that work makes me think he’ll snag third.
Race 4 selections:6-3-2
RACE 5 – 6 furlongs, Claiming $10,000 Post Time: 5:18
There’s no doubt that Rock N Reward (#6) will fight every step of the way for a victory, seeing as how narrow his last two wins were at the line. Scooter Davis runs his claimers into form extremely quickly with a win rate of 33% so the 9-5 morning line fits. Little Lamb Chop (#2) would be good value in this field seeing as she ran a Beyer last out that is two higher than the favorite, a 60 for the #6 compared the 62 for the #2 horse. I like seeing Angel Of Harlem (#4) come back to state-restricted company and to a tag she’s more comfortable at.
Race 5 selections: 6-2-4
RACE 6 – 1 mile 70 yards, Starter Optional Claiming $10k Post Time: 5:45
This race feels like a clash of titans (or as much as a clash can be in a starter optional claimer). I’m hard-pressed to go against Faster (#6), who’s gotten Jennifer Tooley an undefeated campaign of 2-for-2 at PID this meet. I trust he’ll be ready to run again. Van (#5) won very impressively for Ron Potts and his winning margin of 5-and-a-half lengths could indicate he’s ready to take on a class raise. Hard Mission (#3) keeps Anontio Gallardo and was second by 2-and-a-half lengths last out. This gelding has run in the money at this distance 5 times in 7 starts, a good stat to indicate consistency.
Race 6 selections:6-5-3
RACE 7 – 1 mile 70 yards, Avery Whisman Memorial Stakes Post Time: 6:12
The $100,000 Avery Whisman Memorial Stakes will see a field of seven enter the gate to go a mile and 70 yards around the Erie oval. The even-money favorite is Godolphin’s Encino (#1), a Nyquist gelding trained by Brad Cox, who sharp Presque Isle fans will remember as the winner of the Presque Isle Mile Stakes on Masters day last year. First Strike (#7) will be a key price with high Beyers and a penchant for the front end. If you want to beat the favorite, you’ll want to do it with this 10-1 morning line. The third horse I want to focus on is Woodcourt (#4). This horse only has three starts under his belt on tapeta, but has a win and a third with a career-high Beyer on synth of 82, as well as getting an Emmanuel Esquival shipping in off a disappointing West Virginia Derby night. This duo will be ready to rock tomorrow.
Race 7 selections:1-7-4
RACE 8 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $12,500 Post Time: 6:39
We should get a cool promotion here like a Gulfstream-style $3 dollar pick 3 with the route race tie-in and a lower takeout, but I’m still waiting for someone at Presque Isle to use any of my recommendations. This appears to be a race Baytown Storm (#8) will be the deciding factor in how the race plays out. I think Taylor Kingsley is a very solid talent, one I want to keep my eye moving forward. Unbounded Movement (#7) makes a return to the tapeta for the first time since last year, and there’s room to show development in the time she was here at 3 years old to now as a 4-year-old filly. Gaddiel Martinez gets Mistral Wind (#6), who ran against a nasty duo of Air One and Ohoopee last out. That race should be a key one going forward.
Race 8 selections:8-7-6
Gaddiel Martinez has a 3-win edge over Antonio Gallardo, with Israel Rodriguez 9 wins off the top of the heap. Kevin Rice and Scooter Davis continue to duke it out with Rice holding a 1-win advantage. See you tomorrow for more Presque Isle Downs action!
