Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia
Battaglia selections for Saturday, Jan. 20
RACE 1
MR GREY ran well in both of his races over this track for Chip Brownfield. He will be rallying from off of the pace and rates the slight edge with Franklin back aboard. CONQUEST SKEDADDLE stopped badly last out after pressing the pace throughout. He drops back to the bottom and figures to be tough to catch at this level. RAKEITIN needed his last race and has a good record over the Turfway strip.
RACE 2
PATTY’S MISCHIEF comes off of a good runner-up effort going a flat mile. She shouldn’t mind the cut-back in distance and appears to be in a good spot to pick up the win. MISS OMEARA hasn’t been worse than third in her last seven races over this track. She looks like the one to beat. ZERO OUT has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 3
KICKIN GRASS had a rough trip last out but ran well to finish third behind two next-out winners. She looks like a solid bet to handle this field with Lebron picking up the mount. IMALLABOUTTHATBASS was just a length and a half behind the top pick last out and figures to be the one to beat. NORWEGIAN LADY drops a notch in class and fits with these.
RACE 4
ALL HANSENS ONDECK comes off of a sharp score last out and appears to be in a good spot to make it two in a row for Grant Hofmans with Lebron picking up the mount. COLONELS INA RUSH comes off of a third-place finish against better and has to be respected. THUNDERCLOUD rates a chance.
FAMILY KITTEN just missed in his debut for Mike Maker and should move forward off of that effort. He figures to get a good trip from the inside post under Lebron and rates the edge in a good maiden race. DYNAMIC RESPONSE is also trained by Maker. He went evenly in his only race and has had four solid works since then. Look for improvement tonight. TRUTH BE TOLLED is a contender.
RACE 6
GREENHORN is a shipper from Chicago who has the speed to be on or near the lead. He could spring the upset in a well matched claiming race. MUTATION has been away from the races for a year but is training sharply for Kim Hammond, who does very well with runners off long layoffs. He looks dangerous despite the layoff. SNIPER is a nine-year-old veteran who is definitely on the decline but he drops in class and fits in here.
RACE 7
INGADORE has run well in all three of his races over the Turfway Poly and hooked much better company in his starts at Churchill. He just missed last out but was six lengths clear of the third-place finisher in that one and looks like a winner for Tom Humphries with Orm back aboard. DAY IN THE SUN was no match for the top pick last out but went evenly and Lebron picks up the mount. CANDIR stretches back out after a dull effort sprinting and will like the added distance.
RACE 8
NECESSARY faded a bit in the stretch after pressing the pace in her debut going a mile. She cuts back to six furlongs for this one and rates the edge for Maker and Lebron. SHE STAYS ROLLIN came up a bit short in her first start back after a seven-month layoff. She figures to be on or near the lead and is definitely the one to beat with Franklin picking up the mount for Wes Ward. SECURITY looks best of the rest.
