Presque Isle Downs Selections and Analysis for Monday, May 26, 2025

Dick Powell analyzes the Memorial Day card at Presque Isle Downs and offers his selections.

Race 1

1st: (6) TRIPLE SECRET – showed good speed in her career debut at Gulfstream Park back in March, then came back there and chased the pace without gaining ground. New trainer Randy Russell adds blinkers for the first time. 

2nd: (3) DARING DAME – drops down in class and distance off a dull effort from post 11 going two turns on the turf at the Fair Grounds. Daughter of Daredevil ships here for Tom Amoss, who wins 26% with this maiden dropdown. 

3rd: (4) CALADIUM – beat this maiden claiming level at Turfway Park back in January but was taken down. 

Race 2

1st: (4) TRAVELLER – added blinkers three starts back and opened up a 10-length lead before weakening. He tired again next out but just missed when dropped back to a long sprint. Off for 214 days, and his claim has been waived. 

2nd: (2) STEELER MISCHIEF – has dangerous speed and showed it against much better company. He showed good speed to the final furlong last out in his first start off the claim and drops down to his lowest level ever. 

3rd: (5) STAYINYOURLANE – broke his maiden here last year going two turns in decent time. 

Race 3

1st: (7) THALBERG – horse for the course makes his first start off the long layoff with the claim waived. He was an even third last out behind a next-out winner, and he has past races here that are good enough to beat these. 

2nd: (3) OCEAN OF STORMS – won on the dirt at Tampa Bay, then did nothing next out. He could not overcome post 10 going 5 1/2 furlongs in his Tapeta debut and adds blinkers again. Juan Arriagada wins 28% going long off two sprints. 

3rd: (4) CLASSIC KING – raced evenly two starts back, then romped last out on the dirt at Tampa Bay.

Race 4

1st: (3) ADIOS BUCCANEER – moves up in class off a series of good efforts going two turns on the turf at Tampa Bay. He makes his Tapeta debut for Lisa Allen, who wins 15% with her overall claimers, and his sire, Bucchero, does well on synthetics. 

3rd: (6) SASSE’S CLASS – took him 11 tries to break his maiden, then he came back to win here in his Tapeta debut. Throw out his last dirt race at Penn National, and he picks up last year’s leading rider Antonio Gallardo. 

3rd: (1) DR. HYDE – winless in 10 tries on the Tapeta here, but most of them came against decent company. 

Race 5

1st: (3) SOLO SURPRISE – was a good second two starts back at Mahoning Valley, then she led to the deep stretch last out at Thistledown. She makes her Tapeta debut for Bob Gorham, who wins 16% with his maiden special weight starters. 

2nd: (4) SPOKEN VOW – speedball held well for third three starts back here, then tired when moved up to this maiden level. She held better last out when dropped back down in class for Russell and gets in light with Brooke Bays. 

3rd: (5) BOUJIE BETZ – was a good third two starts back, then made a strong middle move against stakes foes last out. 

Race 6

1st: (3) EL CHISPAZO – after two even efforts on turf at Gulfstream Park, he just missed going seven furlongs on the dirt at Tampa Bay. He was second as the 7-5 favorite in his first start off the claim by Arriagada, who wins 67% second start out of his barn. 

2nd: (9) CROWNING PRINCE – raced evenly when Lasix wad added two starts back, then rallied for second last out in good time. He returns off a 228-day layoff but so do most of the starters in here. 

3rd: (2) COASTAL BREEZE – first-time starter from Eoin Harty, who wins 13% with his debut runners. 

Race 7

1st: (8) UNBRIDLED PEACE – broke her maiden by a nose in her well-bet career debut, then came back and just missed on the dirt at Tampa Bay. She adds blinkers for her Tapeta debut and gets Israel Rodriguez, who is off to a hot start here. 

2nd: (9) NO TAPPIN OUT – ran well here a year ago with a win and a second, then went to the sidelines. She came back in March at Turfway Park with an even effort when she acted up at the start, and now gets Pablo Morales who rode her last year. 

3rd: (5) MORETASTIC – ran well in three of four starts on the dirt at Tampa Bay since the claim by Maria Bowersock.

Race 8

1st: (9) EXCLUSIVE ENTRY – dropped down to maiden claimers for the first time here last July, when he went gate to wire. He drops further down in class and should be the one to catch at a distance where 42% of the winners went gate to wire.    

2nd: (2) RAMMING SPEED – returns off a 649-day layoff for Kevin Rice, who wins 12% in this spot and 29% first time against claimers. He has plenty of back class and has a bullet workout for this.  

3rd: (5) ELUSIVE CHANGE – took him nine starts to break his maiden here last year, and he should come out running.