Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Selections for Thursday, Dec. 14
RACE 1
FAST TRACK KATHERN drops in class for her third career start for Mike Maker. She showed improvement last out and posted a bullet work here last week. Give her the edge with Lebron picking up the mount. MAXA MIA showed nothing in her debut after a bit of early trouble. She drops in for a tag and figures to run much better at this level. MAJESTIC BOLD has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 2
ENLISTED MAN may have needed his last race after a two-month layoff. He has won three of his six races over this track and rates the slight edge in a well matched bottom claimer. ARSENALOFDEMOCRACY beat the top pick in his first try on the Poly and looks dangerous again tonight. BACKLASH comes off of solid efforts at Churchill and his best makes him a solid contender.
RACE 3
EYE ON THE MONEY ran a decent race at Churchill last out against much better competition. She has performed well on the Turfway surface and is capable of beating this bunch with her best performance. RHO CASSIOPEIAE broke her maiden at first asking for Eduardo Caramori. That was a weak field but she won impressively and should improve in her second career start. VIA FRATTINA moves to the barn of Doug Cowans and has the early speed to be in contention throughout.
RACE 4
SAGARA drops in for a tag after a fourth-place finish against much better last out. That was her first start in two months and first over the Turfway Poly. She appears to be in a good spot to pick up the win tonight. NATIVE INDY comes out of the same race as the top pick. She owns a win over this track and is the one to beat. CACTUS LADY has been idle since June. She loves this track but may need a race before she is ready to win.
RACE 5
GIVE ALL CASH was never in contention in her Turfway debut but should like the added distance and drop in class tonight. Look for a big improvement with Ouzts back aboard for Curvin Smith. PRIVATE SPOT also takes the class drop. He has the speed to be on or near the lead and will be tough to catch. AUSTON’S HAT TRICK will be a contender if he draws in.
RACE 6
GILDED LILY has won three of four over this track and comes off of a game score last out. She will be rallying from just off the pace and gets the nod with Lebron picking up the mount for Mike Maker. YOU CHEATED also likes this track. She will be running at the end and her best makes her tough to beat. LORI’S STORE is a seven-year-old veteran stakes winner of more than $350,000. She has definitely lost a step or two but she has to be respected.
RACE 7
PORTRAIT OF EMMA ran sixth behind next-out stakes winner Daddy Is A Legend two starts back. She was well beaten when she tried the dirt next out but she should like the move to the Poly and appears to be in a good spot to get her maiden win tonight. SISTAS READY is trained by Charlie LoPresti, whose horses usually improve with racing. She will like tonight’s added distance and is the one to beat. GIGI JEAN didn’t break sharply in her debut but a better start makes her a contender.
RACE 8
BELL BY THE RIDGE was a beaten favorite here on opening night but Kim Hammond drops him to the bottom and he should make amends with a win at this level. FEET’S AFIRE didn’t show his normal speed in his last race. He figures to be laying right off the early pace tonight and looks dangerous in this spot. GO FOR FOUR DUDE is a contender.
