Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6
Race 1
CONFISCATE has been off since August and doesn’t show any published works, but trainer Tony Hamilton has good numbers with runners coming off layoffs. This one takes the class drop and should be able to handle this field. SPIRIT HAWK is a lightly raced 3-year-old who comes off a decent effort at Churchill. He is the one to beat. RAMBLINGRUDYRAGS fits in here.
Race 2
JINGLE ME THIS was dead last in his first race back after a long layoff but figures to move forward in here. He does his best running on the Turfway Poly and gets the nod. HUNTIN BUDDY had some trouble in his last race at Churchill and owns a win over this track. He prefers more distance but is the one to beat. IAN SMITH has the speed to be dangerous.
Race 3
PISTOL BOX closed well to finish third against a better field last out at Churchill. He figures to get a solid pace to run at tonight and looks like a winner with Lezcano picking up the mount for Tom Van Berg, who had an excellent Churchill meet. FIGHTING FOR GRACE hasn’t finished in the money in 12 starts but will also be rallying late and is a contender. ALL HANDS ON DECK needed his last race.
Race 4
SUPER WONDERFUL looks like the controlling speed in here and appears to be in a good spot for the wire-to-wire score with Sarvis back aboard for Michelle Brafford. NAIFAH has a solid record this year and her best makes her dangerous. MAJESTIC KINDNESS rates a chance.
Race 5
MALIBU SAINT is winless in five starts this year but has been competing exclusively in stakes races and did win a small stake last December. Maker drops her into a non-winners of three tonight and she looks like a solid bet to win with Channing Hill aboard. KITTEN’S SLEW didn’t handle the soft turf in her last race but figures to be the main competition tonight. SWEET ARITHMETIC could run well at nice odds.
Race 6
SOUTHERN CANDY has been very consistent this year, finishing in the money in six of her eight races. Give her the edge. SHE’S A FINE LINE has a good record on the Poly and her speed makes her dangerous. GET FOXY is a contender.
Race 7
ABACO DREAM and HOT HONEY form a tough entry for Wes Ward. ABACO DREAM looks like the better of the two and figures to get a good trip from just off the early pace. Give her the edge. BIVIAN B is in the capable hands of John Hancock. She comes off an even effort against better and will be running at the end. PRINCESS ATHENA has the speed to be in front early and has to be considered.
Race 8
FLYING FRANK hooked a solid field of bottom claimers at Churchill and is in a bit easier tonight. He can win this one with McKee picking up the mount. WILD ZAMBEZI has shown steady improvement in his four starts for Jeff Greenhill. He comes off a win at Belterra and is capable of another good effort tonight. TWO IF BY SEA rates a chance.
