Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

Dick Powell handicaps the Monday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (4) STARSHIP BELMONT – tired going six furlongs two starts back against better, then stretched out to two turns and won easily as the 3-5 favorite when dropped down to this class level. 

2nd: (5) DAME MAUDE CHARDIN – was a good third in her PID debut going six furlongs, then ran poorly when stretched out. She ran well back at a sprint, but then won two in a row on the dirt going two turns at Mountaineer. 

3rd: (1) VANILLA BEAN – has been up and down the class ladder but was a good second against these. 

Race 2

1st: (5) BRADITUDE – drops down to bottom claimers off a trio of turf sprints at Penn National. He has plenty of back class here for Mike Rogers, who wins 26% with this surface switch. 

2nd: (6) SPAN OF CONTROL – gelded son of Into Mischief drops down to the bottom off some decent efforts against much better. He exits a very fast race and gets a major rider switch to Antonio Gallardo.  

3rd: (4) SHY DA RUNNER – raced evenly two starts back in a long sprint, then showed speed going two turns. 

Race 3

1st: (4) MORE THAN GRACE – speedball returns to the races off a 148-day layoff for Bob Falcone, who wins 12% in this spot and 23% when he removes blinkers. She ships in from Belmont and is working well there.   

2nd: (3) POPCORN N PEACHES – first-time starter from Aldana Spieth, who wins 27% with her maiden special weight starters. Daughter of Flatter (11% debut winners) is out of a stakes-winning dam that has produced two winners. 

3rd: (5) SPOKEN VOW – just missed two starts back against open company maidens. 

Race 4

1st: (8) WHITEKNUCKLEFLYER – went gate to wire two starts back against bottom claimers, then came back with a good third when she disputed the pace in fast time. Adam Rice wins 33% with his overall claimers. 

2nd: (4) VICOUNTESS – romped by over six lengths two starts back against bottom claimers, then moved up in class and won easily again. Brandon Kulp wins 29% with his overall claimers and 24% first start after a win. 

3rd: (3) NEXT EPISODE – ran well on the turf at Colonial, then beat bottom claimers last out as the favorite. 

Race 5

1st: (9) FRENCH BENEFITS – was a game second two starts back in an off-the-turf event at Belterra, then romped by over seven lengths as the 3-5 favorite going two turns in fast time. David Wolochuk wins 34% with his claimers. 

2nd: (1) CANDY JANE – broke her maiden second time out here when Lasix was added, then she ran second against this claiming level. She stretched out to two turns last out and was run down late as the 9-5 favorite. 

3rd: (2) RHAENYS – broke her maiden in her Tapeta debut at Woodbine last year, then ran well on the turf this year. 

Race 6

1st: (7) GENTLE BREEZE – raced on the turf in his first four starts this year, then ran poorly on a sloppy track at Penn when moved way up in class off the claim. Kulp wins 32% second start off the claim.   

2nd: (8) SPEIGHT THE SNOW – rallied for second here when dropped down to this class level, then went gate to wire as the even-money favorite when blinkers were added. Ron Potts wins 18% first start after a win.

3rd: (6) ON TAP – was an even third when dropped to this level, then ran well in his first start off the claim. 

Race 7

1st: (5) CANDY REWARD – horse for the course won four starts in a row on dirt, Tapeta and turf. She was an even fourth after racing wide in the Masters (G2) here and now meets lesser company. Pablo Morales rides back for Kulp – 40% together. 

2nd: (7) SPIRITED – just missed in her second career start in her Tapeta debut off a long layoff, then broke her maiden by over seven lengths in a dominant victory. Josie Carroll wins 20% first start after a maiden win. 

3rd: (1) BLITZ – went gate to wire two starts back at Woodbine, then was a good second on the turf there. 

Race 8

1st: (3) SOUPER AMUSING – won two straight turf races at Monmouth Park, then was third at Colonial. Daughter of English Channel draws well for Mike Trombetta, who wins 21% first start after being beaten as the favorite.  

2nd: (9) LA ARTISTA – raced evenly in her Tapeta debut here, then came back two starts later here and was a good second as the odds-on favorite. Matt Kintz wins 15% with his synthetic-track starters.  

3rd: (4) LITTLE MARTHA – ran evenly in two starts here against these going this distance.