Presque Isle Downs Selections for Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Dick Powell handicaps the Wednesday card at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 1

1st: (2) SCHNITTKER – won his career debut at the age of four last year on the Tapeta at Turfway, then he ran well here against allowance foes. After two even starts this year, he was a good second as the 9-5 favorite and gets Pablo Morales. 
2nd: (3) NONE THE WISER – showed high speed before tiring in his seasonal debut. He came back to win going gate to wire to break his maiden by four lengths and now takes on winners for Lance Stokes.

Race 2

1st: (3) WETLANDS WILLY – showed some speed before tiring in his well-bet career debut here against this maiden level. Kevin Rice wins 21% with his second-time starters and 18% first start after being beaten as the favorite.   
2nd: (1) STORM WIND – was a distant second in his career debut on a wet track at Penn National, then he came back there with blinkers added and showed speed for a half-mile. Brandon Kulp wins 27% first start after being beaten as the favorite.
3rd: (5) DOUBLE UP LARRY – has improved in all three career starts and turns back to a sprint for Randy Russell.

Race 3

1st: (5) ANCHISES – won his first PID start off the layoff when shipped in here for Linda Rice. Claimed that day by Juan Arriagada, he did nothing next time out, then held on by a nose last out when stretched out to two turns. 
2nd: (3) ONE LAST BID – one-dimensional closer did nothing on the turf against much better company, then came here and was a good third going 5 1/2 furlongs. Son of Kingman stretches out for Lance Stoke – 22% with this move. 
3rd: (6) MIDNIGHT AMBITION – dropped down to this class level and won going away, then ran poorly on the dirt at Penn.

Race 4

1st: (2) HALF BIRTHDAY – horse for the course began the year with seven starts on the dirt but shipped back here and went gate to wire as the odds-on favorite. Not claimed that day, Scooter Davis runs him back for the same price. 
2nd: (3) BELLE BREZING – rallied from off the pace to get up by a neck going two turns on the turf at Mountaineer against better. She ran well there last out and now drops down in class and distance for Donald Blankenship.  
3rd: (4) CHEROKEE CHATTER – horse for the course returned off the long layoff and beat this class level by a head. 

Race 5

1st: (4) DANEFIELD – ran well here two years ago against better, then did nothing on the dirt in his lone start last year. He came here off the 14-month layoff and won easily, but was taken down, so he gets another chance against the same group. 
2nd: (5) BEAR CREEK – rallied for third behind two next-out winners two starts back, then tired last out. He drops down in class for Mark Hoffman, who wins 17% with his synthetic-track starters and 16% with his claimers. 
3rd: (3) JOE PHILLIPS – missed by a neck two starts back, then tired after opening up a huge lead going two turns. 

Race 6

1st: (6) DRUNKLE – began the season off a long layoff and was an even fourth, then came back with a similar effort. Leland Hayes wins 29% third start off the layoff and stretches out to two turns for the first time. Pablo Morales rides back.  
2nd: (4) COLONEL POPPY – takes on state-breds off some decent tries against open claimers. Scooter Davis wins 25% first start off the claim and 37% with his allowance runners. Rosario Montanez gets the mount – 12-for-21 riding for Davis.
3rd: (3) MACKENZIE’S NOVVA – ran well in his first start off the claim by Brandon Kulp. 

Race 7

1st: (3) VALIANT ENYA – responded when blinkers were added three starts back. She won going away at this distance and faces winners. John Fennessy is off to a slow start in terms of winning, but his horses are hitting the board. 
2nd: (5) HAZARD PAY – was soundly beaten by 36 lengths in three starts but then dropped down to this level and held well for second. Tim Hamm wins 21% with his claimers and 17% third start off the layoff.  
3rd: (7) CALADIUM – broke her maiden three starts back and ships in here for Kelsey Danner. 

Race 8

1st: (4) LILY’S TIME – broke her maiden by over six lengths in her first start for Brandon Kulp, then raced evenly as the 9-5 favorite. Daughter of Not This Time drops down in class and adds Morales for the first time. 
2nd: (2) PERMANENT PROBLEM – put together two good races in a row at Turfway in March, then did nothing in two starts in Ohio. She drops down a notch in class and gets in light with Brooke Bays. 
3rd: (6) MRS. MANICOTTI – lost all chance two starts back with a clumsy start, but broke her maiden last out.