Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
FRIDAY, MARCH 17
SKY TIME NOW comes off of a solid runner up effort and appears to be in a good spot to get her maiden win for Eric Reed with McKee back aboard tonight. EYE ON THE MONEY has shown improvement in her last two and is the one to beat. MALEFICENT QUEEN was overmatched against colts last out but is back in with the fillies tonight.
RACE 2
ARYA was a beaten favorite last out but is capable of making amends with a win against this bunch with Lezcano picking up the mount tonight. BLEW BY TOO comes off of some decent efforts sprinting and should like tonight’s added distance. CALL ME ANNA is a definite threat in a well matched race.
RACE 3
OLDFASHION JUSTICE has been in the money in four of his five races this year at Sam Houston. He ran well to finish second over the Turfway Poly back in December and gets the nod in here. LATIN WILD CAT ran well at this level last out and figures to be tough to beat. DRAWBRIDGE could add some value to the gimmicks.
RACE 4
LAKEVIEW DRIVE showed big improvement in her second career start. She has the speed to be in a good position throughout and rates the slight edge over CAT DANCING in a close call. CAT DANCING finished a neck behind the top pick in her debut for Joe Deegan and she figures to move forward off of that performance with Gilligan in the saddle tonight. She is definitely the one to beat. WIT BLITZ is a Claiborne home bred who debuts for Tom Drury and has to be respected.
RACE 5
OMNIVELLY has the speed to make the lead from the inside post and is capable of the wire to wire score with Prescott picking up the mount. COBRA’S CROWN woke up last out and beat the top pick at long odds. A similar performance will make her dangerous again tonight. LIMERICK LADY moves to the barn of Mike Maker and has won six races over this track.
RACE 6
PICABOO ROSE is a consistent runner who has finished second in both of her starts over the Turfway strip. She rates the edge with Quinonez back aboard for Stephen Dunn. CACTUS LADY hasn’t been worse than third In her last five races and can’t be left out of the gimmicks. GENTEEL PROMISE woke up when dropped to this level last and is a solid threat.
RACE 7
FOUR EMILY is a lightly raced four year old from the barn of Bill Connelly. She drops in for a tag for the first time after hooking much better in her first two starts and is capable of winning this one with Ouzts aboard. CHEATIN HEART won a race at Churchill but was disqualified from that one. She just missed at this level last out and is the one to beat tonight with Gilligan back in the saddle. GONNA FIND HER is a contender.
RACE 8
VENTRY BAY was a beaten favorite last out behind Montu who came back to run very well in the Battaglia in his next start. He has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout in this one and looks best for Wesley Ward with Garcia back aboard. CALDERA has been running well since Santangelo claimed him back in September. He will be rallying from just off of the pace and is the one to beat. COSTA MESA rates a chance.
RACE 9
ROHAN comes off of four solid efforts over this track and appears to be in a good spot to win this bottom claimer for Doug Coyle and Jack Gilligan. GIRARDONI was no match for some tough starter allowance runners last out but is back in for the tag and has to be considered. BLUSH BE GONE fits in here.
