FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15:
Race 1
MAN OF BLUES comes off a game win and has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout in this one. He can make it two in a row for Hammond and Prescott. CAIRN was beaten a nose by the top pick last out and is again the one to beat. LAFLOWMYLAXBRO will be running at the end.
Race 2
TENACIOUS SALLY is a consistent runner from the barn of Chip Brownfield. She loves this track and appears to be in a good spot to pick up the win at short odds. MILEVA has the speed to make the lead from the inside post and gets in light with apprentice Virginia Tormey aboard. PRINCESS DROSSIE drops to the bottom and is a solid threat.
Race 3
I’M A LUCKY GUY comes off a third-place finish in his Turfway debut and gets the nod in this one. JUST BE FRANK looked good winning when dropped to this level last out and looks dangerous again tonight. RUNMALIBURUN is a solid contender.
Race 4
BEACH HUT can rally off what figures to be a solid pace. He gets the nod in a well matched bottom claimer. FLYING FRANK should get a good trip from the outside with McKee picking up the mount. GLITTER MAN woke up at 50-1 last out and is a contender.
Race 5: THE JOHN BATTAGLIA MEMORIAL STAKES
SOMELIKEITHOTBROWN ran a huge race in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, finishing a game third after setting the pace throughout. He is training well for his 3-year-old debut and Rafael Hernandez comes in for the mount. Mike Maker figures to have him ready and he looks best in an extremely tough renewal of the John Battaglia Memorial. THE MACKEM BULLET is a very talented filly from the barn of Wes Ward. She was no match for Newspaperofrecord, who ran a full second faster than the colts in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, but she comes in off a 10-length win over this track and is the one to beat. I am one of many people who own a share in DABO. He hasn’t shown much in his last two races, but he did post a bullet work at Gulfstream February 4 and three of the runners he faced last out came back to win including A Thread of Blue, who won a stakes race at Gulfstream February 3.
Race 6
CHARM OFFENSIVE won here in December and hooked better in his last two. He drops to the bottom and can win this one with Franklin back aboard for Michael Ann Ewing. KITTEN FOR GRANNY comes off a game score at this level and a repeat of that one makes him dangerous. NORTHERN RANGER is a solid contender in a tough race.
Race 7
WINTER RAIN ran well in both of his races after coming back from a six-month layoff for Darrin Miller. He was a game winner last out and can make it two in a row this evening. TRENTON BRIDGE faded last out going a mile but will appreciate the move back to six furlongs and has to be respected. DA BULLET rates a chance.
Race 8
HALLELUJAH HAWK showed improvement in his second career start. He has the speed to be on or near the lead and rates the edge in a fairly weak maiden race. WISE LEGACY moves up in class after a narrow miss for a $30,000 tag but looks like the one to beat. THE DOGMEN had early trouble last out and is a contender.
Race 9
CARDIAC KITTEN is a good-looking son of Kitten’s Joy who was an impressive debut winner for the Ramseys and Wes Ward. He figures to move forward tonight and should be rallying from off what figures to be a fast pace. Give him the edge with Julio Garcia aboard. WELLES CROWTHER was overmatched in the Forego but drops back into an allowance race and is definitely the one to beat. RED KITE has shown big improvement over the Turfway strip and is a threat.
Race 10
DHAFEERA is a shipper from Fair Grounds who has been stopping badly after flashing good early speed. She drops to the bottom for her Turfway debut and rates the edge in this one. MILLVILLE comes off a game maiden win and has to be considered. CAROLINA REAPER fits with these.
