Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Dick Powell handicaps the Wednesday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race One:

1st: (1) NICOLE’S WILL – was a good third against these two starts back then came back seven weeks later and was run down late after opening a huge lead. He draws the rail and gets Gallardo back.  

2nd: (6) DUAL CITIZEN – held on for second after disputing the pace going two turns on the turf at Belterra, then had no shot at long odds last out. He drops down to maiden claimer for the first time. 

3rd: (4) BOSLEY – was soundly beaten in his first six career starts on dirt, then ran well twice on turf. 

Race Two:

1st: (3) ON RESERVE – dropped down to this claiming level in her first start off the claim and just missed. She moved back up, ran well, and drops back down. Rosario Montanez rides back – 20% with his sprint rides.  

2nd: (7) AURORAS MUSIC – made her PID debut off a two-month layoff and held well for second against better. She drops down to her lowest class level as the season winds down.   

3rd: (1) TRIPLE SECRET – missed by a length two starts back, then rallied for second last out. 

Race Three:

1st: (2) WILD DELIGHT – ran well against better in three straight six-furlong races, then stretched out to this distance and went gate to wire. Scooter Davis wins 33% first start after a win and 28% on synthetic. 

2nd: (4) STARSHIP BELMONT – dropped down in class and won easily two starts back, then won easily again as the 1-5 favorite. She moves up a notch in class off the claim by Scooter Davis – 25% in this spot. 

Race Four:

1st: (6) ANHINGA – missed by a length two starts back in a long sprint against open allowance foes, then she dropped down to $25K claimers and tired after a half mile. She drops again for Teresa Connelly.  

2nd: (3) VALIANT ENYA – broke her maiden here, then came back and beat this claiming level twice in a row. She didn’t run badly when moved up in class and now drops back down to the right level. 

3rd: (2) HAZARD PAY – speedball was run down two starts back, then went gate to wire last out. 

Race Five:

1st: (4) DOWN IN THE BAYOU – one-dimensional closer just missed here going 5 1/2 furlongs, then was an even third. She switched barns to Maria Bowersock, who wins 30% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

2nd: (5) SAWEETIE GIRL – just missed going two turns on the turf two starts back at Mountaineer Park, then held on by a head there. She has some back class on Tapeta here and needs to be up on the pace.  

3rd: (2) LENA KAHLENA – began her career showing good gate speed, but not in the last two. 

Race Six:

1st: (4) TODDCHERO – raced evenly in his first start off the claim by Arriagada, then dropped a bit and went gate to wire. She came back against this level and was run down in a long sprint, and gets Gallardo.  

2nd: (5) BUCARO – was a stakes winner here in his second career start, then ran well in two stakes races. He just missed in a turf sprint at Colonial off the long layoff, then came back here and was an even third.    

3rd: (1) LEGENDS CAN’T DIE – returns to the races off a 468-day layoff for Kevin Rice. 

Race Seven:

1st: (2) TARSUS WARRIOR – speedy gelding just missed in a turf sprint at Penn in fast time, then just missed here against this class level as the 13-10 favorite. Brandon Kulp wins 28% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

2nd: (1) THORN OF HEARTS – took advantage of a drop in class two starts back, and he romped by over three lengths. He moved back up to this level and just missed going this distance in fast time.   

3rd: (7) GOOSE HUNTER – horse for the course has been up and down the class ladder but ran well last out. 

Race Eight:

1st: (7) STRATEGYFORYOU – held well for second against this class level two starts back then faded when moved up in class. He drops back down in class for John Fennessy, who wins 15% with this move. 

2nd: (4) GRAND MORNING – took him 10 tries to break his maiden, which he did by over three lengths last out as the 9-5 favorite, and often, perennial maidens do well in their first start against winners.   

3rd: (5) FROZEN FOUR – broke his maiden on the turf, then was an even fourth against this class level two starts back.