Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019
RACE 1
UNVEILING drops in class for Mike Maker after a solid effort against better. He looks like a winner at short odds with Martin Garcia picking up the mount. HARLAN’S VADOR is still winless after 16 starts and was well beaten by the top pick last out but could wake up on the move back to Poly. OUT OF THE BLUE is a contender.
RACE 2
WARRIOR’S LULLABY figures to be another strong favorite in the second race. Garcia is also aboard this one for Shelbe Ruis and it would be tough to pick against him in this spot. TEE TEE ran poorly in his last two at Churchill but has a couple of wins over the Turfway strip and rates a chance. TALE OF FAME has a chance,
RACE 3
DEERSLAYER debuts for Mike Maker off a long series of solid works in Louisville and here at Turfway. Maker has good numbers with first-timers running for a tag around two turns and this one could be ready to fire tonight. CLASSIFIED INFO drops in class for Ian Wilkes, whose horses usually improve with racing. Look for a better effort in here. AMERICAIN JOEY is a solid threat.
RACE 4
PROVEN WARRIOR is a 9-year-old veteran who was re-claimed by Kim Hammond last out. He has good speed from the inside post and rates the slight edge in a wide-open claiming race. FERLIN HUSKY has never raced at Turfway but has an excellent record over the Arlington Poly. He is the one to beat. OVERCAME will be tough if he handles the track.
RACE 5
MOLLY’S GAME woke up last out on the Churchill dirt and broke her maiden over this track last year. She can spring the mild upset in another competitive race. NO INTEREST has an excellent record on the Tapeta at Presque Isle and if he takes to the Poly he is definitely the one to beat. HOXIE is a contender.
RACE 6
SISTAS READY ran poorly on the dirt at Keeneland last out but owns a win over this track. Give her the edge with Jimenez picking up the mount for Charlie Lopresti. DOUBLE OAKED has just one win in 23 starts but has been in the money in 12 of her races. She beat the top pick last out and her best makes her dangerous. PASS IT ON rates a chance.
RACE 7
K CHOICE has shown huge improvement in his last two races. Maker claimed him from his last win at Churchill and he faces a very tough field, but he gets the nod in a very contentious race. KNIGHTS KEY is a veteran runner who has performed well on all types of surfaces. He will be rallying from just off the pace with Albin Jimenez and looks dangerous in this spot. UNMOORED moves up in class after an easy win and is a solid threat.
RACE 8
HOORAY FOR HARVEY looks best in here. He comes off a decent effort against better and if he handles the Poly he should be able to win with De La Cruz back aboard. CRUZ DIEZ is a bit erratic but he will be running at the end and could add value to the exotics. GEORGIE HYPHEN drops in class and fits with these.
First race post time is 6:15 p.m.
