Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025

Dick Powell handicaps the Wednesday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1:

1st: (5) MOMENTOUS MISS – began this season in good form with a second and a win but then ran wide against this level. She came back with a good second from post 8 then just missed when moved up in class.   

2nd: (3) MAKE A MILLION – ran against much better company before coming here and she promptly won easily. She was third in a turf sprint at Colonial Downs then came back here and ran well against better company.

3rd: (1) LA CREMA – raced evenly in two route starts against better then was a good second when dropped down. 

Race 2:

1st: (1) AQUITANIA ARRIVAL – horse for the course missed by a length in his first start off the claim by Arriagada then came back and tired when moved up in class. He drops way down here with Gallardo picking up the mount. 

2nd: (6) STRAIGHTOUTADUTTON – horse for the course was soundly beaten as the 8-5 favorite two starts back then he came back and romped in fast time. He could do it again if he breaks running. 

3rd: (2) WHERE YOU WAS – horse for the course was a sharp winner two starts back then ran poorly in fast time. 

Race 3:

1st: (4) FORTUNE SELLER – was a good second against these two starts back then got up by a neck last out. Kevin Rice wins 19% first start after a win and 32% when he rides Israel Rodriguez.  

2nd: (2) HAPPYISASHAPPYDOES – horse for the course went gate-to-wire two races in a row then tired when he disputed a fast pace on the turf at Colonial. He moved up in class here last out and tired in the stretch.  

3rd: (5) SWISS SLANG – rallied from off the pace to miss by a neck when dropped to this class level. 

Race 4:

1st: (5) WINE PARTY – showed nothing in her career debut going seven furlongs on the turf at Kentucky Downs and makes her PID debut off a series of workouts on the Tapeta at Turfway Park. 

2nd: (4) SMART PHILLY – made a decent middle move before weakening going 5 1/2 furlongs here then came back and missed by a neck going two turns. Daughter of Smarty Jones draws well with Martina Rojas back aboard. 

3rd: (3) CAPARBIA – did nothing first time out against males then she ran much better last out against these. 

Race 5:

1st: (2) NEXT EPISODE – was a good second in a turf sprint against better at Colonial Downs then raced evenly there last out. She ships here and drops down in class for Phil Schoenthal who wins 19% with this surface switch.  

2nd: (8) VALLIANT VICTORIA – speedball led to the deep stretch in her seasonal debut off the long layoff then improved some here last out when dropped down to this level. Aldana Spieth wins 17% off medium rest and 25% with Scott. 

3rd: (9) BEDTIME STORY – speedball breaking from the outside drops down in class. 

Race 6:

1st: (5) WHITEKNUCKLEFLYER – speedball went gate to wire two starts back here then was a good third when moved up in class. Adam Rice wins 31% with his claimers and 29% with his sprinters.  

2nd: (6) SUGAR TREAT – rallied behind a fast pace to win going away by four lengths then just missed going a bit longer. He tries them again at six furlongs for Randy Russell who wins 32% first start after being beaten as the favorite. 

3rd: (2) QUEEN ANNA T – was a good second in her first start off the claim by Mike Pappada. 

Race 7:

1st: (1) CROOKED DREAMS – went gate to wire to win his PID debut easily then tired some when moved way up in class. He drops back down for Juan Arriagada who wins 41% with this dropdown and 25% third start off the layoff.   

2nd: (2) CALYPSO CHARLIE – beat this class level easily in his PID debut then he moved up in class without any success. He dropped back down last out and was a good second in fast time. 

3rd: (7) YARDMAN – held on for third when stretched out to two turns two starts back. 

Race 8:

1st: (8) SO GRAND – still a maiden after 10 tries but all but one came against better company. The son of Goldencents drops down in class for his PID debut. Scooter Davis wins 35% first start out of his barn.  

2nd: (7) MAGNUS EFFECT – still a maiden after 15 tries but he should be fit in his fourth start of the year and adds blinkers for the first time. Aldana Spieth wins 13% with her synthetic-track starters.  

3rd: (3) GRAND MORNING – showed good speed here in his last two starts when blinkers were added.