Presque Isle Downs Selections for Monday, July 14, 2025

Dick Powell handicaps the Monday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (3) KITTY OF WAR – ships in from Finger Lakes after a strong second two starts back going six furlongs on a tiring track. Daughter of Fog of War should appreciate Tapeta where his natural speed will carry farther. 
2nd: (7) SPANISH CARA – ran well on a synthetic track in Ireland in her second career start. Since coming to America, she raced mostly on the turf in California. In her PID debut, she showed speed for a half mile against much better company. 
3rd: (5) STRAWBERRY SKY – could not overcome post 11 last out here and was forced to race wide at long odds.

Race 2

1st: (4) UPPITY UP – horse for the course beat similar here last season going two turns. Off until June, she showed speed going six furlongs then raced evenly going two turns against one class better. Gallardo rides back. 
2nd: (6) TRAUMARAMA – raced mostly on dirt and turf but came here and was a good third in his PID debut at the age of 11. She came back with a decent second last time out and makes her third start off the layoff. 
3rd: (1) BOURBON BLAST – horse for the course drops down a notch in class for Lance Stokes and gets Scott Spieth.

Race 3

1st: (2) CRANK IT UP – daughter of Frosted makes her PID debut for Todd Beattie who wins 39% first start after being beaten as the favorite. Gallardo should be able to work out an inside trip from post two. 
2nd: (6) NUN GIMEL HAY PO – lost all chance when he hopped at the start and found himself behind 11 other horses. She did get up for third then came back and raced evenly as the lukewarm favorite. 
3rd: (5) FLASH FREEZE – first-time starter from Tim Hamm who wins 12% with his debut runners and 16% debuting against these.

Race 4

1st: (2) PALACE REVOLT – was an even fourth in his seasonal debut going this distance then ran evenly again going two turns against this maiden claiming level. Tim Hamm wins 23% going long to short and gets Morales. 
3rd: (5) HOPE SHE COMES – still a maiden after 17 tries and 16 of them came here. She did nothing in her seasonal debut and now moves up a notch in class. If she is going to improve, second time off the long layoff will be it. 
3rd: (1) FAST LEARNER – has run here in the past without winning and might have enough gate speed to keep up early.

Race 5

1st: (7) TAP THE SKY – showed high speed to the final yards two starts back against better then tired after making a decent middle move. He drops down to the bottom for Teresa Connelly who wins 16% with her route starters. 
2nd: (8) SANDY LANE KITTEN – missed by a neck in his PID debut here at the age of 10 then held well the next out. Last out, the son of Kitten's Joy was outkicked after setting a dawdling pace. Juan Arriagada wins 29% on synthetic tracks. 
3rd: (4) KING NATE – finished up last season with a win against this level then ran evenly here his last two starts.

Race 6

1st: (3) CRACKING CONNOR – rallied for third in his career debut after being shuffled back from post one. Miguel Clement wins 21% with his maiden starters and he should break better with experience and blinkers added. 
2nd: (1) THE FED'S PLOT – did little in his first three career starts on turf then came here and raced evenly. He improved greatly last out and should be able to work out an inside trip with Gallardo – 27% with his route mounts. 
3rd: (6) AND THATS MY STORY – still a maiden after 11 tries but his second two starts back looks to be good enough to beat these.

Race 7

1st: (7) BURNIN TURF – ran poorly two starts back against much better in his PID debut but then dropped down and went gate to wire. The outside post should not be a problem and Pablo Morales rides back – 4 for 10 riding for Arriagada. 
2nd: (2) CASHIER CHECK – was soundly beaten in his first start off the claim by Scooter Davis but then dropped down and held on for second. Davis wins 44% first start after being beaten as the favorite and 29% going long. 
3rd: (1) PEMAQUID PETE – horse for the course has won 14 times here and could be hard to catch from post one.

Race 8

1st: (4) BUCCHINI – raced evenly in her first two career starts last year on the Tapeta at Gulfstream. She came back there with a good second there and makes her first start in 268 days. Daughter of good synthetic-track sire Bucchero gets in light. 
2nd: (5) RAVEN DANCE – was beaten about 50 lengths in her first four career starts which came on dirt then she was a good second here in her PID debut. Todd Beattie wins 25% with his overall synthetic-track starters. 
3rd: (8) ROCK TUNE – has six placings in seven starts here the past two years and looks to be the best of the rest.