The penultimate Presque Isle card is here, so let’s see if we can make heads or tails of the huge fields that make up this card.
All times EDT
RACE 1 – 6 furlongs, Maiden Claiming $25,000 Post Time: 3:30 p.m
Ignoring Alana (#5) has decent all-weather works and a touch more experience than others in the field, not to mention in the last race she ran a horse has already come out of that with a next-out win. Fun Time Lindsay (#8) has room to improve but her first run under the tag netted a second-place result. Martina Rojas getting her third start aboard is also a good sign. Girvinette (#6) is worth keeping an eye on, as her mother was a first-out winner and a multiple-stakes place performer on track.
Race 1 selections:5-8-6
RACE 2 – 6 furlongs, Claiming $12,500 Post Time: 3:57
Time Leap (#4) is really good at finishing second at PID, and is a must-have horse in any box or multirace wagers due to that track record. Oh Sheila (#7) will be an interesting horse to watch off the claim but retaining Taylor Kingsley off a win last-out is good to see, and this pair will be pushing the pace on the front end. Ohoopee (#5) had a shaky start in Tim Girten’s barn but looked sharper in her last two starts. I’d say she keeps improving on those races here.
Race 2 selections:4-7-5
RACE 3 – 1 mile 70 yards, Allowance Optional Claiming Post Time: 4:24
King Mendelssohn (#3) is an easy pick here, as he hasn’t lost a race since May, though what gives me pause is seeing Israel Rodriguez not listed as the rider. Classic Nofty (#5) is the odd man out as every other horse in this race faced off in a September 28th allowance optional claimer. The #5 has scored two wins over the Erie tapeta, and he could make it three. He’s A Mess (#2) could make a late run if the pace falls off, as he was only a length off King Mendelssohn in third last time out.
Race 3 selections:3-5-2
RACE 4 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $6,250 Post Time: 4:51
Twist N Twirl (#3) finally broke through with a win last time out, and he’s never missed the board at this distance, though he’s never won either. Irish Stone (#5) looks really sharp as he’s been runner-up his last two races. Snovember (#8) is worth the inclusion for third, hitting the board his last two starts at good prices.
Race 4 selections:3-5-8
RACE 5 – 6 furlongs, Claiming $25,000 Post Time: 5:18
The race pace should set up well for Buck’s Howl (#5) with the amount of early pace in the field. Ready Set Cairo (#3) looks good from a class perspective especially dropping to a guaranteed tag. Body By Carvel (#1) is worth watching at a price. A poor start and a seven-wide move at the top of the stretch really hurt in his last start, and the horse continues to work blisteringly fast.
Race 5 selections:5-3-1
RACE 6 – 1 mile 70 yards, Allowance Optional Claiming Post Time: 5:45
Simply put, Night Nurse (#6) should just be faster on the outset than the rest of her competition and with many others wanting to be forward it’s possible she wires the field. Les Is Best (#8) is going to be a decent price with two consecutive runner-ups in both her starts at PID. Verbal Geyser (#3) has an excellent record over the Erie tapeta and just won by over 7 lengths on turf last time out.
Race 6 selections:6-8-3
RACE 7 – 1 mile 70 yards, Allowance Optional Claiming Post Time: 6:12
I can’t end the Presque Isle meet without picking Time For An Angel (#9) one more time, though she has to overcome the wide draw and her last attempt stretching out didn’t go so well. If Candy Rockette (#2) shows a successful transition from turf to synthetic, then this field might be good as done, though at the window I’d let this horse beat me as she’s sure to be a short price. Tiger Division (#7) has the Beyer Speed Figures to make a competitive argument for third.
Race 7 selections:9-2-7
RACE 8 – 1 mile 70 yards, Claiming $5,000 Post Time: 6:39
What happened to Finn McSorely (#7) in his last race? Well, he went 10 furlongs, which he probably didn’t want to do and ended up a distant last place. However, if the next-out races of his competitors are any indication, he’ll either finish top-two here or run 6th. Blazing Bo (#2) has turned around his season off the claim, scoring a win two starts back and finishing second last out. Danefield (#1) extended distance well to a winning effort last time out, and should be strong again.
Race 8 selections:7-2-1
See you tomorrow for the closing day analysis at Presque Isle Downs!
