Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Dick Powell handicaps the Wednesday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race One:

1st: (5) CLASS PHOTO– beat allowance foes here going two turns in fast time last year in his Tapeta debut. After racing on the turf since then, he just missed from post 10 on the Tapeta at Turfway Park last out and is working well for this.   

2nd: (2) COLONEL POPPY – returns to the races off a 232-day layoff for Matt Kintz, who wins 12% in this spot and 15% with his overall claimers. He had three workouts here last month and draws well. 

3rd: (4) THIRD CITY – moves up in class off two straight wins on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs and has won here before. 

Race Two:

1st: (4) BOUJIE BETZ – speedy filly was a good third here two starts back against this maiden level, then ran well against stakes foes last out 233 days ago. Daughter of Warrior’s Reward is training well and gets Antonio Gallardo. 

2nd: (6) WETLANDS WILLY – first-time starter from Kevin Rice who wins 14% with his debut runners and 16% against this maiden level. Israel Rodriguez wins 19% riding from Rice and 18% with his sprint starters. 

3rd: (5) WARRIOR’S MISSION – first-time starter from Matt Kintz who wins 17% when they debut against this maiden level.

Race Three:

1st: (1) SHOWDOWN KING – finished up last season with an even effort from post 11, then returned seven months later with a good second against this class level. Teresa Connelly wins 41% first start after being beaten as the favorite. 

2nd: (2) SANPIRODU – drops down in class after showing good speed on the turf at Laurel for Keri Brion, who wins 13% with her overall claimers. He has plenty of back class and draws inside with Scott Spieth, who wins 21% with his sprint starters.   

3rd: (3) DISCO CENTS – returns off the long layoff and broke his maiden last year off a similar rest. 

Race Four:

1st: (5) XERCES – speedball broke her maiden here last year going two turns, then came back and won again. She finished up last year with a good second against allowance foes before going to the sidelines. Brandon Kulp wins 26% second start out of his barn.  

3rd: (3) ANGEL OF HARLEM – showed good speed on the dirt at Parx before coming here and beating similar claimers going 5 1/2 furlongs. She should be tough with a race under her belt and gets Martina Rojas back aboard – 18% riding for mom.  

3rd: (2) EASY SEVEN – finished up last year with two wins, then showed good speed here in her return to the races. 

Race Five:

1st: (1) GREY CHARMER – horse for the course won two straight when stretched out to two turns last year. He finished up with two seconds in good time and returns to the races off the long layoff for Kevin Rice, who wins 19% with his overall claimers.   

2nd: (5) TONY SMALL – spent the winter on the dirt at Tampa Bay, then came here and was a good second as the odds-on favorite. Mark Hoffman wins 33% second start out of his barn and 17% with his overall claimers. 

3rd: (6) JEN’S SONG – horse for the course has won 12 times here and has 20 placings. Still running at the age of 12. 

Race Six:

1st: (7) WHERE YOU WAS – finished up last year with a good win from off the pace, then returned to the races here two weeks ago and was a close second. Randy Russell wins 19% second start off the layoff and 16% with his claimers. 

2nd: (1) GOLDEN SODA – won here last year in fast time, then tired next out. He returned off the layoff here with an even fourth for Ron Potts, who wins 18% second start off the layoff and 22% with his synthetic-track starters. 

3rd: (4) THE SINNER IS YOU – horse for the course moves up in class off a sharp win as the odds-on favorite. 

Race Seven:

1st: (8) GOING UP – was a fast winner going seven furlongs on the dirt at Tampa Bay, then tired there last out against stakes foes. Horse for the course is training well for Ron Potts, who wins 26% with his allowance starters. 

2nd: (4) MY BUDDY B – returns to the races off a 221-day layoff. He tired some two starts back in a grade two stakes race at Keeneland last October, then won a grade 3 by a nose at Aqueduct.  

3rd: (3) WHENIGELTOHEAVEN – was a close third on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park last November

Race Eight:

1st: (8) GOOD TO BE TRUGE – speedy mare tired in her last five starts here last year, then returned off the long layoff and led to the final furlong. She should benefit from that effort and carry her speed to the final yards.     

2nd: (2) TIME LEAP – finished out of the money in her first three career starts, but then woke up on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park when Lasix was added for the first time, and she won going away. Antonio Gallardo picks up the mount. 

3rd: (3) KEEP IN TOUCH – moves way up in class off some speedy efforts on dirt, Tapeta, and turf for Katy Cheeks.