Battaglia
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
Race 1
PRINCETONIAN was second behind a repeat winner last out and looks like a solid bet to take the opener for Brett Santangelo with Johnny McKee, who started the new year with three winners on Tuesday, aboard. CJS BILLY BYU exits the same race as the top pick. He was well beaten in that one after pressing a very fast pace and can run better tonight. BOOM BOX ran well when dropped to this level last out and is a contender.
Race 2
MARTHA’S MAFIA ran poorly last out but has the speed to make the lead in here and could be tough to catch. SHYLA comes off a game win and figures to be the main competition. MAGIC FEET rates a chance.
Race 3
SOUR PEACH ran second in her first race back after a six-month layoff. She loves this track and looks like a winner with Azael De Leon aboard for Peggy Pate. DESIREE comes off a sharp score for the always tough team of Bill Connelly and Perry Ouzts. She is the one to beat. CHOPPYCHOPPYCHOPPY drops to the bottom and has to be considered.
Race 4
STINA comes off a nice win and the runner-up came back to win easily here on Monday. She can make it two in a row with holiday meet-leading rider Rodney Prescott back aboard. TOO COOL will be running late in a race that figures to have a lively pace and is the one to beat. MALEFICENT QUEEN is a threat with her best effort.
Race 5
LADY LEAH drops in class for co-leading trainer Mike Maker. Prescott has the mount and she looks like a solid bet to win this one at short odds. CAN D APPEAL debuts for Aaron West, who has solid numbers with his first timers. Watch the board on this one. MOTHER OCEAN has had only one race and can improve.
Race 6
QUEEN JEANNE has run well in both of her races here and gets the nod in a fairly weak maiden claimer. E Z BONUS beat the top pick at odds of 64-1 in her last race and a repeat of that one makes her tough. LADY CREED is a contender.
Race 7
KEROS evidently had some issues early on and didn’t make his first start until he turned five. He came off a seven-month layoff and won impressively for high percentage trainer Tom Drury last out and can make it two in a row with Malcolm Franklin back aboard tonight. WELLES CROWTHER was disqualilfied from a game win last out and a repeat of that one makes him the one to beat. ELGAR has been off since March but is firing bullets in the morning and has to be considered.
Race 8
TRENTON BRIDGE drops back to the bottom for Tom Van Berg and appears to be in a good spot to pick up the win. GRAMMY’S LEGACY has the speed to be dangerous. READYAIMFIRE ran poorly last out but is capable of better.
