Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Selections for Saturday, Dec. 16
RACE 1
JOOPSTER and SHIVOO are both trained by Wes Ward but run uncoupled in the betting. Either one is capable of winning but give the edge to JOOPSTER with Garcia picking up the mount. OVERCRITICIZED looked good winning at Mountaineer and looks dangerous in this spot.
RACE 2
AEROPAGUS faded after pressing the pace in her first race back after an eight-month layoff. Kim Hammond runs her right back with just nine days’ rest and she can be expected to run much better tonight. ACID RAIN comes off of a dull effort but drops to the bottom and is the one to beat. ALITTLEBOURBON beat the top pick last out and is a solid threat.
RACE 3
KENTUCKY KITTEN had no excuse for his dismal performance last out but that was a very good maiden race. Maker drops him for $7,500 and he did post a solid work here on Wednesday. SUN KITTY debuts for Wes Ward, who is always tough with his first timers. Gets in light with apprentice Torres looking for his first win this meet. ROCKET WARRIOR fits with these.
RACE 4
JUST BE FRANK comes off of a dull effort but had some trouble in that one and takes the class drop tonight. He should run well in here with Lagunes aboard for Bill Helmbrecht. ELKHORN POET has the speed to be on or near the lead and is the one to catch. BIG AND BRILLIANT was well backed in his debut but faded badly. He is capable of better.
RACE 5
HEAT ROAD was third in his Turfway debut after pressing a solid pace. He has the speed to make the lead in here and will be tough if left alone on the front end. RAKEITIN didn’t handle the muddy track last out but will like the move back to the Turfway Poly, where he has been in the money in eight of his nine races. THIRTEEN ROSES is a contender.
RACE 6
HOLLYWOOD TALENT and SNOW LEOPARD form a tough entry for Kim Hammond. HOLLYWOOD TALENT will like the move back to the Poly and is capable of coming from just off of what figures to be a very fast pace. He rates a slight edge in what looks like an extremely tough race. WHILE YE MAY comes off of a third-place finish behind multiple graded stakes winner Undrafted. He should get a good trip from the outside post and will be tough to beat. HUNKA BURNING LOVE is very good right now but will have plenty of company on the front end tonight.
RACE 7
FORT WISE TREATY is trained by Brad Cox, who has had an excellent year capped by winning the training title at Churchill. He exits a couple of very tough turf races and cuts back to a sprint tonight. He will be running late in a race that should have a fast pace and looks best with Lebron aboard. SIDNEY’S RANSOM was a game maiden winner in his debut over this track. He rallied from just off of the pace in that one and figures to be the one to beat. FIELDS OF DREAMS has to be respected.
RACE 8
MOTOWN RHYTHM drops to the bottom after a decent effort in his first try on the Poly. Give him the edge in here. PRAIRIE SCHOONER beat the top pick last out at odds of 56-1. That was by far the best race of his career and he looks dangerous. LOVELL is a contender.
