Turfway Park provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19
LOOK WHO’S HERE comes off of a solid third place finish over the Turfway strip and has been in the money in six of his last seven races. He looks like a good bet to win the opener. EQUULEI was overmatched last out but drops back to the bottom and is the one to beat with Quinonez back aboard. FANCY JUSTICE is a contender.
RACE 2
MATAR has been off since October but is in the capable hands of Wesley Ward and appears to be in a good spot to pick up the win. RELENTLESS SPIRIT has been away from the races for ten months. He may need a race but anything close to his best makes him the one to beat. DRIFTING WIND fits with these.
RACE 3
PATSY EM has shown improvement since switching to the Poly. She comes off of back to back wins for Jeff Barkley and is capable of continuing her streak tonight with hot riding John McKee back aboard. SWEET ROCK also comes in off of two straight scores. She will be rallying from off of the pace and is a solid threat to the top pick. WILD CARD HIT ran poorly last out but is capable of better.
RACE 4
TIZ SARDONIC JOE was very impressive drawing off to and easy win last out. He looks best in a very tough starter allowance race. NIFTY FIFTY has been a solid runner at this level and he loves the Turfway surface. He has the speed to be in contention throughout and is the one to beat. SERGIOS PRIDE came back from a long layoff to win last out. He faces tougher tonight but is a definite threat.
RACE 5
OWL CREEK has to overcome the outside post but he was second in a tougher race last out and can win this one with a similar effort and Jack Gilligan is in the saddle again tonight. MAIN MAN MIKE has been running very well at this level and will be tough to beat. JAZ N TAP rates a chance.
RACE 6
ART’S SILVER was nailed at the wire after setting fast fractions here on New Year’s Eve. He looks like the controlling speed tonight and is capable of the wire to wire score. STAY ON SHORE showed big improvement when moved back to the Poly last out and should get a good trip right off of the early leader. He looks like the one to beat with Lezcano back aboard for Jeff Greenhill. AMBIDEXTROUS ALEX is a contender with McKee picking up the mount.
RACE 7
TAPITSPHERE ran evenly against a tough allowance field in his first race back after being claimed back in May. He figures to move forward off of that effort and looks like a solid bet to win with Jimenez aboard for Doug Coyle. HOLD MY PURSE loves this track. He moves up in class after an impressive score and will be tough to beat with Lezcano back aboard. IMPASSABLE CANYON was dull last out but drops back in for a tag and is a contender at this level tonight.
RACE 8
SOLE MISS is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Airoforce who debuts for Tom Drury. She has been training steadily and can be expected to run well with McKee up. CHARITY STRIPE has the benefit of two good efforts over this track and is definitely the one to beat. MISSINGDIXIE is a contender and shouldn’t be left out of the gimmicks.
RACE 9
CAM stopped after pressing the pace against better last out. He drops back to the bottom and figures to be tough to catch tonight with Rodney Prescott back aboard. THE GREEN COUGAR comes off of an impressive win at this level and will be running late. ARTIC SKY is a solid contender in a wide open race.
