Turfway Park oddsmaker Mike Battaglia provides selections for the 11-race card on Spiral Stakes Day
SATURDAY, MARCH 25
RACE 1
VALIDATED BLARNEY rates the slight edge in the opener. WHATTHECATDRUGIN is a ten year old veteran who loves this track. He is always dangerous. OUR NOBLE HEART comes off of an even effort and is a contender with apprentice Euclyn Prentice picking up the mount today .
Battaglia
RACE 2
TIZ SARDONIC JOE is very good right now. He is questionable at the mile and a quarter distance but he looks best with Bracho back aboard for Kim Hammond. COPUS was claimed from a sharp win and a repeat of that one makes him the one to beat. SHAKEYOGROOVETHING is a twelve year old making his 106th start but he is still running well and can definitely handle the distance.
RACE 3
KAYLA’S KITTEN drops in class for Wesley Ward and looks like a stand out to win this one at short odds. RACE READY just missed last out and figures second best. MICHAEL will be running late.
RACE 4
PROVEN WARRIOR was a game winner in his first race back after a four month layoff. He has won seven of his ten races since being claimed by Kim Hammond last year and looks like a solid bet to win another one this afternoon. THE GORILLA MAN cuts back to six furlongs and figures to be running late in a race with plenty of early speed. TIZMATIZED is a solid contender.
RACE 5
DUFFLE BAG takes the big class drop which isn’t a good sign but anything close to his best makes him the winner for Kobiskie and Orm. COWCUTTA has just two wins in forty two starts but is back in against bottom claimers and could wake up. HE’S A DANDY CANDY rates a chance.
RACE 6
BOURBON CANDY is a lightly raced four year old who drops in for a tag for the first time. He has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout under Robby Albarado and rates a slight edge in what looks like a well matched race. SAINT PRADO has won five of his last seven races and comes off of a very game win last out. He will be tough to beat. CLASSIC SALSA moves back up in class after being claimed and definitely fits with these.
RACE 7
PROFESSOR SNAPE and OKLAHOMA VIEW are both first timers from top barns. Give the edge to PROFESSOR SNAPE for Wesley Ward who wins with twenty-six percent of his debuting runners. OKLAHOMA VIEW is training sharply and has to be respected. CEEJAY’s MISTER comes off of a solid effort and is capable of running well.
RACE 8: THE RUSHAWAY STAKES
GORGEOUS KITTEN was bumped around leaving the gate in the Battaglia. He was no match for the winner but closed well and was beaten less than three lengths for the place money. His late run could make him dangerous in a race that figures to have a very fast pace. SAILING HOME held on well to finish fourth in the Palm Beach after setting the pace throughout. COOL ARROW didn’t fire in the Risen Star but has been very consistent otherwise and Joe Sharp should have him ready to run well.
RACE 9: THE BOURBONETTE OAKS (G3)
DARKWINGSOVERDUBAI has been extremely impressive winning back to back races at Golden Gate. The fact that Jerry Hollendorfer ships her across the country for her Stakes debut is a very good sign and I’m giving her the edge. CHINA GROVE is a proven stakes performer from the barn of Ben Colebrook. She was sharp winning her three year old debut and she will be tough with Leparoux in the irons. DELPHINIA was a sharp maiden winner at Gulfstream and looked very good winning the Cincinnati Trophy here in February. She has the speed to be on or near the lead and could be tough to catch.
RACE 10: THE JACK CINCINNATI CASINO SPIRAL STAKES (G3)
To see Mike Battaglia’s take on all 12 horses in the Spiral Stakes, download PDF.
PARLOR is a lightly raced colt in the capable hands of Eddie Kenneally. He has won two of his three races and was probably best when finishing second at Kentucky Downs. He won in hand last out at Tampa and looks like he has a promising future. This is by far the toughest field he has faced but give him the edge with veteran Jesus Castanon aboard. KING AND HIS COURT didn’t take to the dirt at Tampa but he should love the move back to the Polytrack today. He won the Coronation Futurity at Woodbine going the Spiral distance of a mile and an eighth and he figures to be running late in a race with a ton of early speed. KITTEN’S CAT is a proven graded stakes performer on the turf and he has the tactical speed to get a good trip from right behind the early leaders. His best would make him hard to beat in a very competitive renewal of the Jack Cincinnati Casino Spiral.
RACE 11
KITTEN’S SOLUTION looks like the stronger part of the Ramsey entry and KNIGHT’S DREAM has been training well for his U.S. debut. Give them the edge. HARANGUE has been running well over this track. SO RANDOM debuts for Kenny McPeek and has to be respected.
RACE 12
OH SO TERRIBLE looks like a standout in the finale. GHOSTZAPPING figures to be the main completion. BAY OF PUCK is a contender.
