Turfway Park kicks off its Winter/Spring meet, with live racing Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays,through March 30.
Turfway will have special live racing cards today, New Year’s Eve and Tuesday Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day), this week only, with special first race post times of 1:10 p.m. Click here for additional information.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31
Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets
Race 1
CALANDAVE just missed last out at this level and rates the slight edge over GAMBLER’S CHOICE in a close call. GAMBLER’S CHOICE was a game winner in his first start over the Turfway strip. He figures to make the lead and will be tough to catch. DISTORTED RANSOM is a contender.
Race 2
PENNY LYNN has won four of her eleven races this year and drops back down against bottom claimers. If she handles the Poly she should be able to win this one. BUDGET CUT was fifth in a six-horse field last out but is in easier tonight and is the one to beat. SICCAR takes the big class drop and has to be considered.
Race 3
THE MACKEM BULLET was no match for Newspaperofrecord, who dominated the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, but she had a little trouble in that one and was beaten just a length and a half for second. She was second in a Group 1 race in England and figures to win this one at a short price for Wes Ward and Luan Machado. DREAM BOAT ANNA was a sharp maiden winner over this track for Mike Maker and figures to be the only danger to the top pick. CRAFTY’S DREAM comes off a game win.
Race 4
DANG IT DOROTHY takes the big class drop, which isn’t a good sign, but anything close to her best makes her a winner in here. TACO WAYNE’S SHOT is 2 for 40 but is the one to beat. LIL POM POM is a contender.
Race 5
UNSTABLED has shown big improvement in his last two races. He has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout and rates the slight edge in a very good starter allowance test. SIGHTS AND SOUNDS was a beaten favorite in a race here just five days ago. He was a bit too close to a fast pace in that one and should run better from off the pace tonight. PURELY BOY is a nine-year-old veteran who loves this track and has to be respected.
Race 6
INMYFATHERSIMAGE was second last out and a repeat of that one would be good enough to win here. MOBIL SKY comes off a couple of even efforts and is a contender. INDY RHYTHM fits with these.
Race 7
BEAUTIFUL STREET has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout and is a solid candidate for the wire-to-wire win with Lezcano picking up the mount for Eduardo Caramori. EQHO ran well to finish third last out at Churchill and owns a win over this track. She will be running at the end with McKee in the irons and her best makes her dangerous. MO JUSTICE is a definite contender.
Race 8
RED HOT KITTEN exits two solid races at Woodbine and is training well since coming to Kentucky. Maker and Prescott have been a hot team this month and she figures to be very hard to beat. SPEIGHT’S COMETE is by champion sprinter Speightstown and is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Munnings. Linda Rice, the leading trainer at Aqueduct, sends this one here for her debut and figures to have her ready for a big effort. LOVE IS ALIVE broke poorly in her debut but gets blinkers tonight.
