Turfway Park provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14
STORMY MISSION flashed speed before stopping last out but may not have cared for that heavy track at Mahoning Valley. He drops in for a tag for the first time and hooks a fairly weak field tonight. GIANT SECRET showed nothing in his first two but gets blinkers and Lasix for this one along with Jimenez in the irons. LEAD THE CHARGE is a definite threat.
RACE 2
C O SISTER just missed last out at odds of nearly fifty to one. That was her first try on the poly and a repeat of that effort may be good enough to win tonight at a much shorter price. JUDSONSPRETTYGIRL exits the same race as the top pick and will be running at the end. CRAZY WILD BESS is another one who ran well in her Turfway debut.
RACE 3
PERFECT PASSION closed well to finish third at this level last out and will appreciate the added furlong tonight. Give her the edge for Mike Maker with Rafael Hernandez picking up the mount. LA FEMME PETITE has only had one race and figures to improve off of that effort. BELOVED BETTY is a first timer with some decent works and Jimenez is aboard.
RACE 4
INDY RHYTHM comes off of two solid races over this track and gets the slight edge in a well matched bottom claimer. UTMOST INTENSITY just missed last out and has the speed to be in contention throughout. MR. WALLY should like the move back to poly and has run well off of the layoff in the past.
RACE 5
EYE ON THE MONEY has been off since September but hooked some very tough runners in her two races at Ellis. She drops in for a tag and could spring the mild upset. PROMISE ME SNOW just missed last out and was well clear of the third place finisher in that one. She could be tough to beat. MADDIE’S FUTURE shows some slow works for her debut but Mike Maker has to be respected.
RACE 6
MERCER SLOUGH looked good winning last out and a repeat of that effort would be good enough to win again this evening with Lagunes back aboard. STRUMMING was well backed at the windows for her Turfway debut but stopped badly after showing some early speed. That was her first start since July and she figures to run much better in here. MY CALENDER GIRL broke poorly last out and lost her best chance.
RACE 7
DURANGO DAN has finished second in both of her races over the Turfway strip. She is bred to love the added distance and appears to be in a good spot to get her maiden win for Stephen Lyster with John McKee back aboard. PORTER STREET is a well-bred runner from the barn of Wesley Ward who is always tough with his first timers. HARANGUE comes off of two solid efforts and gets Lasix for the first time.
RACE 8
VALENTINO BEAUTY is a lightly raced eight year old who has a history of long layoffs but he has won his first start back on each occasion. He has been idle since April when he scored an impressive win here at Turfway and Tom Drury should have him ready again tonight. CERRO is much better on the dirt but anything close to his best would make him hard to beat in here. TAPITSPHERE needed his last race and will like tonight’s added distance.
RACE 9
HOT drops in class in her first race back after a layoff but Dane Kobiskie has solid numbers with his returning runners with Lezcano in the saddle. HARD TO PICTURE will be running at the end and fits in here. DAISY ROYALE should get a good trip from the inside post.
