Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020
RACE 1
MOUNTAIN MELODIES comes off a couple of runner-up efforts at this same level and distance. She gets the nod with Corrales back aboard for Mike Maker. TEMPLEMENT has never been the distance but drops to a career low claiming level and looks like the one to beat. TINGSTHATMAKESENSE fits in here.
RACE 2
CRESCENT WARRIOR figures to be running at the end in a race that should have a legitimate pace. He is capable of springing the mild upset with Johnny McKee picking up the mount. GRADE has to overcome the outside post but has been running well at this level and is the one to beat. LIBOR PLUS has proven to be much better on the Poly. He is a bit suspect at the distance but if he gets loose on the front end he could be tough to catch.
RACE 3
TRICKY TUNE is a bit erratic but her best effort would make her a winner against this field. CENTERFOLD ANGEL has shown nothing in two starts over this track but that was against better. She broke her maiden at Churchill and drops back in for a tag tonight. GOING TO TEMPLE is a solid contender.
RACE 4
ALMAFUERTE has been a beaten favorite on several occasions but gets the nod in a fairly weak bottom claimer. I GOT IT has a solid record over this track and has to be considered. VIDA LEVA EU is a contender.
RACE 5
TICKLE was a game second behind Fashion Code, who came back to finish third in the Cincinnati Trophy last week. She was well clear of the third-place finisher in that one and appears to be in a good spot to get her maiden win for Ben Colebrook and Albin Jimenez. EDEN is a first-timer who is also trained by Colebrook. She is by HOY Curlin out of a stakes-winning mare and she has been training well at Keeneland. Watch the board on this one. BARRACUDA has only had one race and could improve.
RACE 6
SOMELIKEITHOTBROWN was impressive winning the Battaglia and the Ruby here last year and also ran well to finish fourth in the Blue Grass. He showed nothing in his comeback in a very fast race on the Gulfstream turf but posted a couple of nice works since then and should be ready to go for Mike Maker tonight. MOON OVER MONTANA has completely dominated in his last two wins and was claimed last out for $40,000 by Kim Hammond. This is a much tougher field but if he duplicates those performances he will be hard to beat. RAMSEY SOLUTION is a lightly raced 4-year-old from the Ward barn who also comes off two impressive wins and has to be respected.
RACE 7
CALORIC came back after a three-month layoff and closed well to finish fourth in the Forego. He figures to move forward and will like tonight’s added distance. Give him the slight edge in what looks like a well matched race. CAROM has never tried the Poly but has been running well on the Gulfstream turf for Mike Maker. He comes off an even effort in the G3 McKnight and will be tough if he handles the surface. GIANT HONOR showed big improvement in his second race back after a nine-month layoff and should continue to move forward tonight.
RACE 8
BARTON HALL overcame a rough start to win going away last out. She can make it two in a row in this one. VIVA PER LEI drops in class and Ramos picks up the mount. YES I’S A MILLER ran well last out at long odds and a similar effort makes her dangerous.
