Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, June 9, 2025

Dick Powell handicaps the Monday card at Presque Isle Downs. 

Race 1

1st: (4) RED WREN – horse for the course spent the winter on the turf and dirt at Tampa Bay before shipping here last out and beating similar company. She has a big, late kick for Kevin Rice, who wins 19% with his claimers.    

2nd: (1) SHE’S GOT RHYTHM – rallied from far back going two turns to finish up last season as the 11-10 favorite. She was a good third here last out going 5 1/2 furlongs. Randy Russell wins 20% second start off the layoff, and she gets in light again with Brooke Bays. 

Race 2

1st: (1) EL CHISPAZO – had two strong races on the dirt at Tampa Bay before shipping here and showing good speed against top maidens. He drops back down to maiden claimers for Juan Arriagada, who wins 26% with his overall maiden claimers. 

2nd: (4) SECRET FORTUNE – first-time starter from Matt Kintz who wins 11% with his debut runners and 19% with his maiden claimers. He shows four workouts over the track and is a half-brother to a stakes winner. 

3rd: (2) STARSHIP LEGACY – first-time starter makes her belated debut as a five-year-old, but sire Upstart sires speedy horses. 

Race 3

1st: (2) SHIVAREE – just missed going gate to wire two starts back on the dirt at Tampa Bay in fast time. He came back there and ran poorly when moved up in class. Arriagada wins 22% going long and 19% with this surface switch. 

2nd: (3) THE DOORMAN – won on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park back in December then won on the dirt at Tampa Bay. He made his PID debut last out and won in fast time for Rory Barron, who wins 25% first start after a win. 

3rd: (5) STARSHIP EMPIRE – horse for the course has won nine times here and returns off the long layoff for Scooter Davis. 

Race 4

1st: (1) HAUT LES COEURS – ran well against this maiden claiming level two starts back going two turns on the Tapeta at Turfway Park, then shipped here and just missed from post 8 in her first start for Mike Pappada. 

3rd: (7) DOROTEA DREAM – showed some late kick on the turf in Florida, then tried Tapeta for the first time and was an even fourth behind the top choice. Daughter of Jess’s Dream will drop far back and come running late. 

3rd: (4) CLARAMENTE – had a good race last December on the Tapeta at Woodbine, then ran well here last out. 

Race 5

1st: (5) CERTAIN – horse for the course beat this claiming level two starts back as the 7-5 favorite, then finished up the year with an even third. Teresa Connelly wins 16% off long layoffs and gets Antonio Gallardo back aboard. 

2nd: (6) IBRIM – is 3-for-3 on synthetic tracks, and this is his first try at PID. He faced top company at Charles Town last out in good time and returns off a 235-day layoff for Krista Hetrick, who wins an amazing 39% with her claimers. 

3rd: (4) WOODCHUCK – has won five times here with12 placings for Mike Rogers, who wins 17% with his claimers. 

Race 6

1st: (5) BURNIN TURF – has raced mostly on the turf in his career, but didn’t run badly when moved up in class in his first start off the claim by Arriagada, who wins 26% in this spot and 27% with his overall claimers.  

2nd: (7) R ADMIRAL – speedball returns to the races off a long layoff. He made a strong middle move before weakening two starts back, then raced evenly as the 6-5 favorite. He has more than enough gate speed to overcome the wide draw with Antonio Gallardo. 

3rd: (3) DECLARED – finished up last year with a good second against much better company, then raced evenly last out at long odds. 

Race 7

1st: (1) OSKAR MARTINEZ – beat $25K claimers two races in a row at Tampa Bay, then weakened late there after a strong middle move.  He meets weaker for Arnaud Delacour, who wins 20% first start after being beaten as the favorite. 

2nd: (3) BILLY THE GREEK – won as the odds-on favorite on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park, then tired some in fast time. He was a good second on a sloppy track at Keeneland and moves up a notch in class off the claim by Manuel Chavez – 3-for-7 in this spot.   

3rd: (4) CITY TRIPPER – beat cheaper two starts in a row going this distance, then was a good third to finish up last season. 

Race 8

1st: (9) STEELER MISCHIEF – showed good speed going 5 1/2 furlongs, then dropped down to this level while stretching out to two turns and led to the final furlong as the 2-1 favorite. Martina Rojas will have to break him running from a wide draw. 

2nd: (2) BRADY – after being beaten by 54 lengths two races in a row on the dirt, he shipped here and was a good second against this conditioned claiming level. Victor Severino can get a ground-saving trip from here at decent odds.  

3rd: (1) TRAVELLER – finished up last year with a close third, then tired last out in his first start of the year.