Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia
Selections for Thursday, Jan. 11
RACE 1
L’IL J faded after setting a fast pace last out. He figures to make an easier lead tonight and is capable of the wire to wire score with Lebron picking up the mount. MANO FOX has been facing better in Florida and drops to the bottom for his Turfway debut. If he takes to the poly he will be tough to beat. BROTHERS DRYDEN has been in the money in nine of his last ten and has to be respected.
RACE 2
PERFECT EXECUTION was third in his Turfway debut against a much tougher field last out. He has the speed to be in good position throughout and rates the edge for Kim Hammond with Franklin aboard. THE GORILLA MAN has shown big improvement in his last two for Mike Maker. He will be running at the end and is definitely the one to beat. MAN OF BLUES is a solid contender in a very good starter allowance race.
RACE 3
MOUNT CALVARY comes off of a solid runner up effort at this level. He cuts back to 6 ½ furlongs tonight and his best would make him tough to beat in here. HARLAN’S DYNAMO has been off since a winning effort at Churchill two months ago. He has been training well since that one and looks dangerous in this spot. PROMISES TO KEEP looked good winning last out and is a definite threat in a wide open race.
RACE 4
ENLISTED MAN likes this track and should get a good trip from the outside post. He will be rallying from just off of the pace and he gets the nod in this bottom claimer. ROD MCLEOD has the speed to be in good position throughout and should run well in his second try over the Turfway poly. REEDER drops in class and definitely fits with these.
HEAT ROAD faded after opening up a big lead last out going a flat mile. He will appreciate the cut back in distance and appears to be in a good spot to get the win for Brett Santangelo with Ty Kennedy back aboard. SUCKER PUNCHED looks like the one to beat. NOBLE WARRIOR drops in class.
RACE 6
GUNNY ROO was a close second behind favored stable mate Arawak last out. He was five lengths clear of the third place finished in that one and should get a good trip from just off of the pace. He rates the slight edge over VIOLENT STRIKE in a close call. VIOLENT STRIKE was very impressive breaking his maiden in his second career start for Ben Colebrook. A repeat of that effort will make him very tough to be beat. STORMCOAST also comes off of a good performance and has to be respected.
RACE 7
GIGI JEAN showed improvement in her second career start for Helen Pitts. She came from far off of the pace in that one but had some trouble in the first turn and could be closer to the early leaders tonight. She looks best with Kennedy back up. PORTRAIT OF EMMA was a neck behind the top pick last out. She ran against much better on the grass at Keeneland and is definitely the one to beat. FINAL REWARD exits that same race. She was dull throughout in that one but can improve in her second career start.
RACE 8
REALITY gets the nod in a weak bottom claimer. WHEN TH CATS AWAY stopped badly last out but beat the top pick in his prior race and Lebron picks up the mount. ZARMAN needed his last race and could improve.
