Only one card between us and Masters day, and I couldn’t be more excited. Some light action before live racing goes dark in anticipation for the biggest day of the Presque Isle meet, so let’s jump in to this Tuesday card.
All times EDT
RACE 1 – 5 ½ furlongs, Maiden Claiming $7,500 Post Time: 3:30 p.m
Watch The Law (#5) comes in running back quickly after a maiden race at Horseshoe Indy, and it would be nice to see some improvement changing surfaces and getting Antonio Gallardo aboard. Alabama Sleeper (#3) comes out of a race I’m not impressed with given the winner’s performance on Monday, but two second place finishes make me think this horse is close to breaking out of the maiden ranks. Il Principado (#4) comes in off a dismal run at Mountaineer and looking back at that race, every horse in that race ran top 4 in their next start.
Race 1 selections:5-3-4
RACE 2 – 5 ½ furlongs, Claiming $6,250 Post Time: 3:57
Ramses The Great (#2) most likely blows this group into Lake Erie with how his previous tapeta speed figures match up to the rest. I’m willing to give Alexander K (#6) a shot for second after his morning works didn’t translate to a winning effort last time out, but his times just keep getting better in the morning. Party At The Beach (#7) has hit the board in both starts going this distance, so he makes for an easy slot into third.
Race 2 selections:2-6-7
RACE 3 – 6 furlongs, Claiming $12,500 Post Time: 4:24
Under Taylor Kingsley, Bottled Time (#3) won by 7 lengths in a maiden-breaking score, and Kingsley renews the ride again today. Boujie Betz (#1) drops from allowance company, and last time she ran for this tag she came in second by a half-length.Knicks Factor (#4) ran second last out and I would expect her class to shine through in this field.
Race 3 selections:3-1-4
RACE 4 – 1 mile 70 yards, Maiden Special Weight Post Time: 4:51
Brittany Russel ships with intent, seeing as she’s 3-for-4 during the meet, and The Jeweler (#2) should get some class relief after having run at Aqueduct and Delaware Park. The horse that finished second in her last race also won last time out. Call Me Babe (#4) finished second in her first try at a route and should look strong again under regular jock Scott Spieth. Todd Beattie has a nice win rate on routes, and stretches out Time On The Run (#6) for the second time in her fourth start.
Race 4 selections:2-4-6
RACE 5 – 5 ½ furlongs, Claiming $6,250 Post Time: 5:18
Jayana (#4) made her first start on the PID synthetic a winning one, and teams up again with Mike Allen. Foggy Bar Blues (#7) has quite possibly the lowest speed figures I’ve ever seen for a back-to-back winner, and I think there’s more to this horse than the speed figures indicate. Bucchini (#1) has hit the board in her last five starts and I look for her to perform well again today.
Race 5 selections:4-7-1
RACE 6 – 6 furlongs, Claiming $12,500 Post Time: 5:45
All four of the runners who ran back from the top 5 in the Tom Ridge Stakes finished top two, three of them winning. Good Directions (#1) should be incredibly live when looking at that back-class, and his last run showed that he was willing to pass horses and gave a good effort to the wire. Nicole’s Will (#4) has been on a tear, finishing top two in all four of her starts during the PID meet, and while Edwin Gonzales won’t be riding, I trust Taylor Kingsley in his stead. Gift Exchange (#2) may have taken a jump too big in a $25k claimer on a biased track. She returns to more comfortable competition today.
Race 6 selections:1-4-2
RACE 7 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $8,000 Post Time: 6:12
The pace will be quick between Ramblin Betts (#6) and Finn McSorley (#3), which sets the pace up nicely for the late-running Traveller (#8). I’ll use the #6 over the #3 in third, who kept a steadier pace last time out compared to the extreme front running of the #3 horse.
Race 7 selections:8-6-3
RACE 8 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $5,000 Post Time: 6:39
I’ll take a shot in the dark to end it with Gliding Afleet (#5). He can win at this distance and gets Rosario Montanez, a jockey experienced with the PID tapeta. There’s hope for Hawks Creek (#8) to improve in his second start with Israel Rodriguez. Should Goose Hunter (#3) run back, he’d be doing it on a weeks worth of rest and would be an extremely quick turnaround, but his last-out Beyer Speed Figure is the fastest of the bunch.
Race 8 selections:5-8-3
See you on Friday for the Masters card breakdown! And keep your eye on the ITM socials and YouTube, in case some extra special coverage ends up dropping!
