Hello! I’m experimenting with shorter intros if you couldn’t tell. Once Saratoga and Kentucky Downs are through I should be able to write a bit more, but for now let’s get September started right with Tuesday racing.
All times EDT
RACE 1 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $12,500 Post Time: 3:30 p.m
One thing jumps out at me reading the form line for Taco Cat Backwards (#1): her last work came at Fair Hills training center. I still think the angle works, and I can make the argument based on the company she’s kept on the Mid-Atlantic circuit. Starlit Sky (#5) looks ready to raise in tag here after a dominant 7-length victory last time out. Mistral Wind (#3) has the highest last-out Beyer Speed Figure and sports high-percentage connections, making her a logical third choice.
Race 1 selections:1-5-3
RACE 2 – 6 furlongs, Claiming $25,000 Post Time: 3:57
Despite the strength of these two favorites, neither of them have raced at PID before, leading me to select Ready Set Cairo (#3) for the win here, dropping from allowance company and managing to get a second-place run last time he ran for this tag. It’s very likely that Vasa (#5) is as strong on tapeta as he was on dirt, but that remains to be seen and I don’t want to play this horse for a straight win at 2-1. Ditto that for Forty Love (#1), but don’t sleep on this horse as his first work on the Presque Isle synthetic was a quick 35 second breeze over 3 furlongs.
Race 2 selections:3-5-1
RACE 3 – 6 ½ furlongs, Claiming $8,000 Post Time: 4:24
In this short of a field I’m singling Turf Cat (#3) and moving on with my day, this horse is in unreal form with only one finish worse than second in 11 starts over the span of a year’s time. If I had to pick an upset, I’d go with Camilo (#2) with Antonio Gallardo aboard, who comes out of a race where the top four finishers have all run back in-the-money, two of them winning.
Race 3 selections:3-2
RACE 4 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $5,000 Post Time: 4:51
I want to like Secretary Of War (#1) but his impressive silver medal collection doesn’t fill me with confidence. Instead I’ll take the upset pick Wicked Finn (#6) who has faced some tough fields and worked 5 furlongs in just over a minute, giving me hope that this horse has turned the corner and can play spoiler here. Still pencil in the #1 for second because those four-straight second place finishes still mean the horse is talented, just having a rough time getting by. Lightning Charlie (#2) is as likely as anyone to run third and I like the change to jockey Walber Alencar, that might wake this horse up a bit.
Race 4 selections:6-1-2
RACE 5 – 6 furlongs, Allowance Post Time: 5:18
Braggart Joe (#1) should outclass this field, winning his last start. Trainer Scooter Davis has a crazy 34% win rate with last-out winners as well. Freestate (#2) continues to work well, going a half-mile in 47 seconds flat. Changing jocks to the high-percentage Israel Rodriguez will only benefit him more. Call Me Later (#6) had a come-from-behind trip last time out and I think he’ll be able to pass horses again to hit the board.
Race 5 selections: 1-2-6
RACE 6 – 6 ½ furlongs, Allowance Optional Claiming Post Time: 5:45
We still don’t have clocker reports for Presque Isle Downs (seriously DRF get on that) and both Cactus Cairo (#1) and Inspire Courage (#6) have works that catch my eye on paper. I’m giving the edge to the #6 because she actually worked over PID’s tapeta, turning a 5-furlong run into a 58.1 second blitz. Meanwhile, the #1 worked a half-mile at Turfway Park in 48 seconds flat, and gets the weight allowance that comes with apprentice Taylor Kingsley. Trail Of Roses (#4) is threatening based on her near-seven length win last time out, and if she runs that back the works of my top picks may not matter at all.
Race 6 selections:6-1-4
RACE 7 – 6 furlongs, Allowance Post Time: 6:12
Once again using the ‘where you work’ angle for this race, we see Kelly Cogan’s Au Courant (#7) make an appearance after some lackluster turf works at Fair Hills. What isn’t lackluster, though, is her performances in her two Presque Isle starts, counting a second-place and a win. Boogie Woogie (#5) will be on the pace but it remains to be seen if she can stick on the front end. Shez Untappable (#6) will be classy in this field, considering she was felled last time by the streaky Wherever We Are.
Race 7 selections:7-5-6
RACE 8 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $6,250 Post Time: 6:39
Elfuegomasbrilante (#4) sports the highest last-out BSF of the bunch, narrowly, and will face many rivals he outran in that last race. Ramblin Betts (#3) figured it out last time to the tune of a four length win under the hold of Gaddiel Martinez. Irish Stone (#2) takes a stiff drop in price tag from his last race at $25k, so it will be interesting to see if he has what it takes in this class.
Race 8 selections:4-3-2
My laptop is currently dying and I don’t know where I put the charger, so I’ll see you tomorrow (I hope) for more Presque Isle action!
