Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019
RACE 1
MONEY ON MY MIND faded after showing good speed against a stronger field at Churchill. He figures to be on or near the lead in this one and rates the slight edge. GOLDEN READY has been in the money in four of his six races but has been beaten at very short odds in his last two. BIG ISLAND is still winless after 15 tries but fits with these.
RACE 2
DRAMA RUN has never raced at Turfway but is a consistent performer who has solid races on the Poly. She should get a good trip from just off the pace and posted a recent bullet work for new trainer Brett Santangelo. CURIOUS RUTH owns three wins over this track. She has been off since September but looks dangerous with Jimenez picking up the mount. CONSTANCIA drops in class and has to be considered.
RACE 3
LAS RAMBLAS has been running against better in New York. Wes Ward drops her in for a tag and she looks like a solid bet to win this one at short odds. FIRESIDE KITTEN was never in contention in his only race at Keeneland but also drops in class for Mike Maker and is the one to beat. BUSBY SPRING is a contender.
RACE 4
MUNTIJ has won four races this year against bottom claimers at Mountaineer but he did run second in a couple of races over this track last year. He gets the nod with Malcolm Franklin aboard for high-percentage trainer Marshall Godsey. NUTTIN’ FASTER has been off since January but takes the class drop and looks like the main competition. LIMEHOUSEGAS figures to show speed with McKee up.
RACE 5
HYNDFORD moves up in class after being claimed from a decent effort at Churchill. That was just his second start this year and he figures to move forward tonight. He looks best with apprentice J. D. Ramos riding for Genaro Garcia. ZING ZANG closed well to finish fourth last out after a poor start. He posted a bullet work here for Steve Asmussen and will be tough to beat. BIG IRON will like the move back to the Poly.
RACE 6
DANCENSING has won three straight races, although she was disqualified from her last win at Churchill. She has run well over all types of surfaces and appears to be in a good spot to pick up another win tonight. LOVE IS ALIVE dropped in for a tag last out to pick up a win at Churchill for Tom Drury. She faces tougher in here but has the speed to be on or near the lead and could be tough to catch. PROFOUND LEGACY will be a factor if she handles the track.
RACE 7
HEMP HEMP HURRAY is a graded stakes-placed runner from the barn of Wes Ward. He has been off since November but has been training steadily for his return. The fact that he runs for a tag is reason for concern but it would be tough to go against him at this level. DANCE PROUDLY is a 9-year-old veteran who is still going strong. He definitely prefers the turf, but his speed makes him dangerous in this one. UNSCATHED rates a chance.
RACE 8
LET ME LEAD was a beaten favorite at Churchill last out but drops in class and gets the nod with Declan Cannon aboard. Wes Ward (MODERN DAY DRIFTER) and Mike Maker (JACKPOT KITTEN ) both have first-timers in here. Both have been training steadily so watch the board on these two.
