Turfway Park provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18
HIPPOLYTE takes the big class drop and appears to be in a good spot to get her maiden win for Ben Colebrook with Quinonez aboard. BAD CAT BEAUTY exits the same race as the top pick and is capable of improvement in her third career start. SUNSHINE SENORITA is a contender.
RACE 2
BLEW BY TOO moved to the barn of Tom Drury and looked good winning over this track. She can make it two in a row in what looks like a very well matched claiming race. V C F PROUD MARY loves this track and comes off of a game score. She is always tough at this level. REDLACE AND PEARLS has been off since May but takes the big class drop. Anything close to her best would make her a winner but the layoff and drop are reasons for concern.
RACE 3
BELL BY THE RIDGE has been off since October but is training well for Kim Hammond. He posted a recent bullet work over this track and looks best on the class drop. BATTEN THE HATCHES just missed last out in a blanket finish. He likes this track and is the one to beat. SHAKEYOGROOVETHING is a 12 year old who has finished in the money in 42 of his 101 races and is still running competitively for Jeff Greenhill. He has to be respected.
RACE 4
RULELIKECLEOPATRA won her first start back after being claimed and posted a bullet work since that start. She gets the edge with Gilligan back aboard for Kim Hammond. WEEKEND IN MALIBU has been in the money in eight of his last ten races in Canada. He has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout and also has a bullet work over the Turfway strip. SONNY SHORT STACK failed as the favorite last out but a return to her best makes her dangerous tonight.
RACE 5
LIL LUCILLE was fractious in the gate last out and had some problems early on but rallied strongly to win despite racing very wide. She can make it two in a row for Mike Maker with Hernandez picking up the mount. TRULY TRUDY showed big improvement in her second start over the Turfway surface and a repeat of that one makes her the one to beat. SPARKLE SLEW is a consistent runner at this level and has to be considered.
RACE 6
CHARMING CLARE looked very sharp winning last out for Mike Maker and appears to be in a good spot to make it two in a row tonight. DEE DEE BERTIE faded a bit in the stretch after showing good speed in her last race and figures to be the one to catch. HENNYTHELOVEPENNY was third in her first race back after a three month layoff. She figures to move forward off of that effort and should get a good trip from the inside post.
RACE 7
SARATOGA SYNDICATE showed big improvement in his first try on the Turfway Poly. He just missed in that one and a similar performance makes him a winner with Lezcano back aboard for Mark Hubley. EL BONITO comes in off of a couple of runner up efforts and figures to be the one to beat. COSTA MESA closed strongly in his last race and is a contender.
RACE 8
PROMISES BROKEN was impressive in her debut win at Keeneland and hooked a tough allowance field when she was third at Churchill. She has trained well on the Keeneland Poly training track and gets the nod in a good allowance race. ON PROBATION woke up in her first try over the Turfway surface and will be hard to beat. Both HANSEN’S GIRL and TICKETY BOO come off easy wins for a tag and look dangerous in a wide open race.
RACE 9
MAXINE is on the also eligible list but if she draws in she figures to be able to beat this field for Dane Kobiskie. ITSALLBOUTTHATBASE likes this track and beat several of these same runners last out. She would definitely be the top pick if the former fails to draw in. SHESELLSSANCTUARY is lightly raced and has the speed to be dangerous.
