Brian W. Spencer's Daily Picks
Presque Isle Downs - Race #3
Picks Notes
#1 Vivid Exposure She's probably quick enough to try to go from the fence while moving around two turns, and she has the pedigree to stay this trip if she doesn't get hounded too hard in the early going.
#4 Aztec Princess Reliable finisher has some running lines that would make her tough in here, but I worry that she's overbet and hasn't been a super serious threat in in either of her last two races. Underlay chance.
#8 Sal's Blue Jacket She should be in line for a great trip while moving around two turns, as she has a rating gear that should allow her to settle in just behind a pair of potential pace players.
Race Summary Vivid Exposure meets some other potential stretchout pace in #5 Cloudy Bay, but I'm hoping she has a go for it from the inside while trying to stretch this group out.
Presque Isle Downs - Race #6
Picks Notes
#3 Charges Dropped There are a few pretty solid pace players lined up in here, and this filly might get the right kind of trip while settled behind the pace but in position to get a big jump on the finishing threats. Think you can lean on her here a bit.
#2 Miss Mikaela She draws furthest inside of all the potential forward players, and her form suggests that her only chance is to have a go of it from the gate. I suppose she could run them off their feet, but I worry she won't get to settle at all.
#1 Sweet Sandy She brings a string of modest running lines, but she has kept some okay company along the way and will try the local footing for the first time in a spot where the pace could heat up. Settles back and clunks up past tired pace chasers at a big price?
Race Summary Charges Dropped should be able to land a first-over trip in here, and I'm hoping a couple other pace players -- including a couple stretchout types -- will keep the splits honest for a capable frontrunner like Miss Mikaela.
Presque Isle Downs - Race #7
Picks Notes
#1 Ready to Venture She's capable of something better than she showed last time around, and she might appreciate getting back on synthetic footing -- her only North American try on a synthetic surface produced a romping win at Woodbine. Tough here.
#8 Deciding Vote She has been in with some decent groups over the course of the last year or so, and I think her style suits this course and group pretty well. Looking for her late.
#10 Christmas Diamond Not much to argue about on the local form that has produced three wins from five starts including a stakes score, but I do worry that she's going to be a bit overbet while meeting the deepest field she has seen her so far.
Race Summary Ready to Venture should be able to find a really nice spying spot while stretching around two turns for this, and there's a chance she'll really like the local footing, if her one spin up at Woodbine is any indication.
Presque Isle Downs - Race #3
Picks Notes
#1 Vivid Exposure She's probably quick enough to try to go from the fence while moving around two turns, and she has the pedigree to stay this trip if she doesn't get hounded too hard in the early going.
#4 Aztec Princess Reliable finisher has some running lines that would make her tough in here, but I worry that she's overbet and hasn't been a super serious threat in in either of her last two races. Underlay chance.
#8 Sal's Blue Jacket She should be in line for a great trip while moving around two turns, as she has a rating gear that should allow her to settle in just behind a pair of potential pace players.
Race Summary Vivid Exposure meets some other potential stretchout pace in #5 Cloudy Bay, but I'm hoping she has a go for it from the inside while trying to stretch this group out.
Presque Isle Downs - Race #6
Picks Notes
#3 Charges Dropped There are a few pretty solid pace players lined up in here, and this filly might get the right kind of trip while settled behind the pace but in position to get a big jump on the finishing threats. Think you can lean on her here a bit.
#2 Miss Mikaela She draws furthest inside of all the potential forward players, and her form suggests that her only chance is to have a go of it from the gate. I suppose she could run them off their feet, but I worry she won't get to settle at all.
#1 Sweet Sandy She brings a string of modest running lines, but she has kept some okay company along the way and will try the local footing for the first time in a spot where the pace could heat up. Settles back and clunks up past tired pace chasers at a big price?
Race Summary Charges Dropped should be able to land a first-over trip in here, and I'm hoping a couple other pace players -- including a couple stretchout types -- will keep the splits honest for a capable frontrunner like Miss Mikaela.
Presque Isle Downs - Race #7
Picks Notes
#1 Ready to Venture She's capable of something better than she showed last time around, and she might appreciate getting back on synthetic footing -- her only North American try on a synthetic surface produced a romping win at Woodbine. Tough here.
#8 Deciding Vote She has been in with some decent groups over the course of the last year or so, and I think her style suits this course and group pretty well. Looking for her late.
#10 Christmas Diamond Not much to argue about on the local form that has produced three wins from five starts including a stakes score, but I do worry that she's going to be a bit overbet while meeting the deepest field she has seen her so far.
Race Summary Ready to Venture should be able to find a really nice spying spot while stretching around two turns for this, and there's a chance she'll really like the local footing, if her one spin up at Woodbine is any indication.

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