Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019
Battaglia
RACE 1
ITALIAN JUSTICE comes off a couple of third place finishes at this level for Brad Cox. She has the speed to make the lead tonight and is capable of the wire-to-wire score with De La Cruz picking up the mount. WINYAH BAY hasn’t shown much in her four races but Wes Ward drops her in for a tag for the first time and she could wake up at this level. MOUNTAIN MELODIES should improve in her second career start for Mike Maker.
RACE 2
DUE TO HIS CHARM faded after pressing the pace last out at Churchill but will appreciate the move back to Poly tonight. He has a chance to spring the upset. STRONG YEN and SHUT THE BOX figure to be the favorites but both are taking huge class plunges. Either one could win but the drop is reason for concern.
RACE 3
SPERLING should get a good trip with Johnny McKee aboard from the inside post. She has run well on the Arlington Poly and rates the edge in a well matched race. MAGIC FEET hasn’t won this year but has been in the money in five of her eight races. She owns a win over the Turfway Poly and will be running at the end under Prescott. JEWELISA has been off since July but Chip Brownfield has good numbers with returning runners.
RACE 4
TOOTHPIC finished last against a couple of these same runners last out in Indiana but that was his first start in six months and he lost all chance when he hopped at the start. He moves to the barn of Joe Davis and posted a recent bullet work over this track. Look for big improvement tonight. STATESBORO was second in that same race as the favorite. He figures to be the one to beat. PORTOBELLO’S HERO rates a chance.
RACE 5
AMEERAH B has been second in three of her four races for Steve Asmussen. She has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout and gets the nod with Albin Jimenez picking up the mount. MY SWEET BABOO exits a tough race at Keeneland. She figures to be running at the end in a race that should have lively fractions and is the one to beat for Maker and Garcia. KISS MORE fits here.
RACE 6
MOONLIGHT ROMANCE has been idle since June but has been training sharply here at Turfway for Wes Ward. She gets a bit of class relief tonight and a return to her best form would make her a winner with Martin Garcia slated to ride. O’KEEFFE is another quality runner from the barn of Larry Rivelli. She has been first or second in seven of her 10 races and has good speed from the inside post. She is proven on the Poly at Arlington and figures to run well again. PERUVIAN APPEAL will be running at the end and is a definite win contender for Brad Cox.
RACE 7
ENCHANTING KITTEN has been running well against some better company and has the tactical speed to be in good position throughout in this one. She has never raced on the Poly but has been training here and Maker should have her ready to roll tonight. STRAITOUTAPOPCORN needed her last race after a long layoff. She figures to improve but may need one more before she is at her best. NO CACHA NA is good right now and could be tough if left alone on the lead.
RACE 8
WALLET was no match for a runaway winner last out but was well clear of the third-place finisher in that one. Dane Kobiskie drops her a notch in class and she looks best in here. WORLD TAX WAR exits the same race as the top pick and may move forward on the Poly. DRY LAKE rates a chance.
