Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Selections for Friday, Dec. 15
RACE 1
GHOSTWALKING is a 10-year-old veteran making his 73rd career start. He is still running well as evidenced by his 11-length win last out and appears to be in a good spot to make it two in a row tonight. PLAIN TALES has been off since October but is training well for his return. He likes this track and is the one to beat. AIN’T TOO PROUD can handle the added distance and has to be respected.
RACE 2
BLAME BERNIE had been off since June with no published works but Tom Drury has good numbers with his returning runners. He should beat this field if he is ready so watch for late works. J K’S COUNTRY drops in for a tag for the first time. He has been in the money in four of his six races and figures to be the main competition. ROYAL GHOST rates a chance.
RACE 3
LIMERICK LADY has been pretty consistent for a bottom claimer. She has a good record over this track and comes off of a solid runner-up effort. She gets the nod for Mike Maker with Victor Lebron picking up the mount. PAPER DOLLIE was just a half-length behind the top pick last out in her first race back after a four-month layoff. She should improve and will be tough to beat. QUE HANSEN exits that race also and has to be considered.
RACE 4
MS B V I is one for 24 but drops to a career low claiming level and looks best in this bottom claimer. BARSTOOL WARRIOR is a lightly raced three year old who comes off of a nice maiden win and fits with these. CHOCOLATE BOUQUET exits the same race as the top pick and gets blinkers tonight.
RACE 5
KAY TWO came off of a long layoff to finish fifth last out at Churchill. She has had three solid works since that race and should like the added distance and the move to the Poly. Give her the edge for Dale Romans, who sends out his first starter of the meet. MISS SPOT ON moves to the barn of Wayne Catalano and makes her first start since August. She has been training sharply at Churchill and should get a good trip from the inside post. COVEY RISE is a solid contender.
RACE 6
BELA MENINA moves back to the Turway Poly, where she has started six times with three wins and three runner-up finishes. She drops back in for $8,000 and rates the slight edge with Lagunes picking up the mount for Kim Hammond. QUALITY STREET closed well to finish second last out and a repeat of that one makes her dangerous. SAULT STARR is another one who will be running at the end and she is a definite threat.
RACE 7
COPPERPLATE comes off of a four-month layoff with only one published work, which isn’t a good sign, but he has had a good year and anything close to his best would make him a winner in this one. TORAZO woke up last out with a nice runner-up finish at Churchill. He posted a bullet work over this track earlier this month and looks dangerous in this spot. SAINT PRADO is a consistent runner with a good record over this track.
RACE 8
IDEAL CITY comes off of a decent effort against better at Churchill. He drops back to the bottom, where he broke his maiden here back in March, and looks like a winner with Goncalves aboard for Eric Foster. ALABAMA SON has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout and figures to be the one to beat. TAVERNONTHECROW has run mainly against state-breds in Minnesota but drops to the bottom and fits with these.
