Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019
RACE 1
ED’S ROCKET failed as the favorite at Hawthorne but will appreciate the move back to the Poly tonight. He has the speed to be on or near the lead and a return to his best form would make him a winner for new trainer William Morey with Malcolm Franklin picking up the mount. MARK MY WAY prefers more distance but likes this track and figures to be running at the end in a race that should have a lively pace. He is the one to beat with McKee aboard. STAY HOME is good right now and has to be respected.
RACE 2
APPEALING JULIA hasn’t raced since July but Chip Brownfield has solid numbers with runners coming back off a layoff. She likes this track and is capable of winning this one. BLAZING DIAMOND has never raced on the Poly but has been training here for the past month and apprentice J. D. Ramos has had a very good start to this meet. DA MRS. fits with these.
RACE 3
BLUEBERRY SHINE ran a decent race against better last out in her first start for Ron Kahles. She figures to get a good trip from the inside post with hot rider Albin Jimenez picking up the mount. KIMBERLEY DREAM comes off back-to-back wins at Churchill and also owns a win over this track. She has the speed to be on or near the lead and will be tough to catch. CATTY KRYS will be running at the end.
RACE 4
TYCHE takes the huge class drop, which is a big reason for concern, but anything close to her best would make her a winner at this level. OHMYMY comes off a couple of decent efforts against bottom claimers and has run well over this track in the past. SKIP AND A HOP is a contender.
RACE 5
MY MANE GIRL and SNAFFLE are both trained by Kenny McPeek, whose 2-year-olds have been running very well recently. MY MANE GIRL was a beaten favorite in her debut but faded after showing good speed. She should move forward and rates the slight edge with Martin Garcia aboard. SNAFFLE figures to be the one to beat. She has shown improvement in her last two races and also has the speed to be in contention throughout. READY TO PLAY rates a chance.
RACE 6
EL AHIJADO ran a good race at odds of over 100-1 last out at Churchill. He did get away with setting a very slow pace in that one but held on well when headed in the stretch and rates the slight edge over LAKE NAKURU with Miranda back aboard for Sal Guerrero. LAKE NAKURU narrowly beat the top pick last out and has better overall form. He will be flying late and is definitely the one to beat. FAVERSHAM is a bit erratic but looks dangerous in this spot.
RACE 7
ECRU has just one win in 20 starts but has been in the money 12 times. He should get a good trip from just off the pace and rates a slight edge with Jimenez aboard for Andrew McKeever. FLUELLEN is a lightly raced 3-year-old in the capable hands of Ben Colebrook. He has been off since August but is capable of running well in this one. LUCKY BODE is another one with a bad win percentage but is trained by Mike Maker and has to be respected.
RACE 8
SHE’S ALOTTA WOMAN hasn’t shown much in recent starts but could wake up with the return to Turfway. B DEB’S FORTUNE came from just off the pace to win last out and figures to run well again tonight. AMERIBELLE is another runner taking a big class drop. She definitely can win here but her last two have been dull and the drop is a bad sign.
