Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Oct. 20, 2025

Dick Powell handicaps the Monday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (3) DISMISS – showed high speed second time out at long odds in a long sprint at Indiana. He came back there and missed by a neck from post 10 for Pavel Matejka, who wins 25% with this surface switch. 

2nd: (1) BRIARCLIFF – showed good speed going two turns against cheaper on the turf at Indiana. Son of Good Magic drops in class and distance with Andrew Ramgeet, who wins 21% with his sprint rides.  

3rd: (4) JUNIOR CHIEF – first-time on the Tapeta for a son of Bucchero, who sired many winners here. 

Race 2

1st: (9) PIONEER BOWL – first-time starter from Will Walden, who wins 16% with his debut runners. Son of Yoshida (8% debut winners) has to overcome a wide draw, but Rosario Montanez excels going long. 

2nd: (5) COME OUT TONIGHT – drops down to maiden claimers off a dull start in an off-the-turf event at Indiana. Riley Mott wins 22% when he adds blinkers, and he gets Antonio Gallardo for his PID debut.     

3rd: (3) LUCKY NUMBER THREE – was outkicked when allowed to press a glacial pace inn his two-turn debut. 

Race 3

1st: (2) LA SCATTA – began this season here with a sharp win in fast time. She was a good second two starts later, then beat similar claiming company last out as the heavy favorite. 

2nd: (1) NIGHT NURSE – speedball breaking from the rail has won her last four starts here when stretched out. She beat state-bred allowance foes by over four lengths in fast time last out for Kevin Rice, who wins 19% after a win. 

3rd: (3) WHEREVER WE ARE – stretched out and dropped down to this claiming level and was a close third two back. 

Race 4

1st: (5) DIVER – took him nine starts to break his maiden, which he did in his first start off the claim by Brandon Kulp. He was a close second as the 2-5 favorite last out against this level and gets Pablo Morales back – 42% with Kulp. 

2nd: (6) I’M SOLO N IN LOVE – was a game second two starts back on the dirt at Finger Lakes, then came back there with an even fourth. He drops down to this level for Anthony Ferraro, who wins 33% first start after being beaten as the fave.  

3rd: (4) ALPHA CAT – broke his maiden here in his two-turn debut, then raced evenly against much better. 

Race 5

1st: (9) RUM ROW – first-time starter from Will Walden, who wins 22% against this maiden level. Daughter of Rowayton (15% debut winners) is training well on the Tapeta at Turfway Park.

2nd: (1) ALLATOU – first-time starter from Pavel Matejka, who wins 10% with his debut runners, and they show a huge, flat-bet profit. She is out of a dam by Tale of the Cat that has produced six winners including two stakes winners. 

3rd: (3) ZAFFA – first-time starter from Brendan Walsh who wins 13% with his debut runners. 

Race 6

1st: (8) BIGONZETTI – tired when blinkers were added two starts back, then he showed high speed to the deep stretch when dropped down to this level in his first start off the claim by Ron Potts. 

2nd: (2) IMPOSTER SYNDROME – has been stuck at this conditioned claiming level all year, but he improved with a good second last out in fast time for Matt Kintz, who wins 15% with his synthetic-track starters. 

3rd: (6) MAZZEI – switches from turf to Tapeta after showing good speed going two turns at the Meadowlands. 

Race 7

1st: (7) HE’S A MESS – horse for the course won two in a row including a stakes win against state-bred foes. He was third in two of his last three starts for Scooter Davis, who wins 30% going long. 

2nd: (3) TWILIGHT DANCER – just missed behind the top choice in the same stakes race, then was a good second against open company stakes foes. He ran well in the Presque Isle Mile for Juan Arriagada. 

3rd: (2) FORTUNE SELLER – beat cheaper two starts back, then raced evenly for Kevin Rice. 

Race 8

1st: (1) LUCY PLAYA – won her Tapeta debut here by over eight lengths two starts back, then was an even fourth in a wide trip when moved way up in class. She drops down to a more realistic class level with blinkers added.  

2nd: (5) BLUESUP GREENSDOWN – took her 13 tries to break her maiden as the even-money favorite, and she meets the right class level for Mike Pappada, who wins 18% with his claimers, and the last 271 show a flat-bet profit. 

3rd: (6) TWISTED EMPRESS – took her nine starts to break her maiden, then she was third last out against this level.