Monday at the track: RT picks a pair of races at Presque Isle Downs using the SmartCap system
Today we’re heading to Erie, PA and Presque Isle Downs. The weather is forecast for scattered showers by post time and mid 80’s.
Interestingly, Pablo Morales, Scott Spieth and Samy Camacho are all signed up to race at PID. This meet should have a good jockey leader race.
Race 1 at Presque Isle Downs – post time 4:45 pm EDT
$8.5K Claiming for 3yo+ NWx going 6f
#3 Love That Jazz (8/5) has our best overall class and near best overall speed. He also has best last two cumulative and best last. Shipping in from CT after being claimed at Penn for $8K, he was moved to allowance company and went longer, where he set the pace and tailed off at the end. Today, he drops to claiming company, had a solid freshening going 3f in :35.9 and fits well here.
#4 Coopers Crescent (5/2) was last seen at Mahoning Valley in January where he wired a one mile race at the $8K claiming level. He was subsequently claimed and has been on the bench since. Not seeing him race, with the proliferation of racing continuing in the Ohio Valley/mid-Atlantic, after the claim, is not a good sign. The enigma is Samy Camacho aboard and his last work of 5f in 1:01. You’ll probably see him press the pace and then taper off.
#6 Midnight Punk (4/1) another horse claimed and then subsequently benched. His past three bullet works at 4f has been impressive, but again, tread lightly with first claimers off a layoff.
#2 Fox Rox (8/1) went off as the money favorite last out, reared out of the break and was out of it from the jump. That was a month ago and today he retains Pablo Morales and is an old pro at Pid going 35:9-10-6 for $158K and is 18:4-4-5 for $159K at the distance.
My choice is #3 Love That Jazz. He enters today in shape and should wire this field. An angle you may want to add to your exotics is #5 Masterofthehouse (5/1) who comes out of a key race at TDN a month ago.
Race 3 at Presque Isle Downs – post time 5:35 pm EDT
$15K Claiming 3yo+ NW2l going 5.5f
#8 Scatsuku (3/1) has Equibase/SmartCap best overall speed, class and best last numbers. However, he hasn’t raced since April of 2019 and has no workouts or races at this track. Pass
#7 Whiskey Dash (5/1) has second best overall speed and class and just broke his maiden three weeks ago against lesser. Changing to the Randall Russell barn, he has two freshenings since, including a :59 5f work on 7/22. Look for him to take the lead and give a go at wiring.
#4 Total Distraction (2/1) is fourth off the layoff and was entered in two allowance races where he summarily got smoked. Prior to that, his attempt at Tampa was every bit as much as an abject failure, and yes, he is taking a class drop, however, not having a good race in three tries does not bode well for this ‘capper.
My Pick is #5 Arba (8/1) took 15 times to break his maiden, albeit mostly in open company and moved to an allowance race where he was overmatched. Drops back today at a likeable distance and has a solid shot at winning.
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