Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia
Battaglia Selections for Thursday, March 15
RACE 1
VAIDATED BLARNEY has the speed to make the lead and is capable of the wire-to-wire score tonight. GOLD CHASER is solid at this level and has to be respected. IMPASSABLE CANYON drops from the allowance ranks into this bottom claimer. Anything close to his best would make him a winner but the drop in a huge reason for concern.
RACE 2
MUNTIJ has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout and should get a good trip from the outside post. He rates the edge with Franklin back aboard. ON THE RIVER comes off of a couple of solid efforts and figures to be the one to beat. RABINATO will be running at the end and fits with these.
RACE 3
A CHANGE OF HEART was a beaten favorite last out in Tampa but Colebrook adds blinkers tonight and she will be tough to catch in this one. GO STELLAIRE is still winless after 12 tries but comes off of a good effort over this track and looks like the main competition. LITTTLE HAVANA is a contender.
RACE 4
SCAT LADY ran well last out and hooks a fairly weak field. She appears to be in a good spot to pick up her maiden win for Keith Kinmon with Franklin back aboard. JASMENE needed her last race after a 5-1/2 month layoff. She should move forward and is the one to beat. DOWNCITY rates a chance.
SMARTY KITTEN was claimed from a winning effort two starts back and hooked much tougher last out. He drops back to the bottom for Jamie Grubbs and looks best with De Leon back aboard. HEAT IT UP RICH hasn’t won over the Turfway surface but has been second in seven of his nine races. He can’t be left out of the gimmicks. RAGING MARKET will be running late and his best makes him dangerous.
RACE 6
LADY STARDUST broke her maiden in her debut back in 2016 and came back after a layoff of nearly two years to win again here at Turfway. She has had a couple of good workouts since that score and should remain undefeated for Wes Ward with Julio Garcia in the irons. I’MLUCKYSGIRL figures second best. ABOUT THAT BASE has been off since October and makes her first start for Rick Jordan. She fits with these but hooks a tough field for her return.
RACE 7
BIRDS GONE WILD is a consistent runner with a good record over the Turfway Poly. He shouldn’t mind the cut back to six furlongs and rates the edge in a well matched race. ROSKI was a bit overmatched last out in a starter allowance race but is back in for a tag and looks dangerous in this spot. AT GUARD is a contender,.
RACE 8
KISS MY NOTE just missed last out at this level and a repeat of that performance would be good enough to win this one. CONVINCING takes on older runners for the first time but is an improving three-year-old who will be tough to beat. BOSA FLOW makes his third start back after a layoff and could run well at nice odds.
