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Mike Battaglia’s Turfway Park selections for Saturday


Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.

Battaglia

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2020

RACE 1

SHEESA PONTIAC was overmatched last out but drops back to the bottom tonight. She should be on or near the lead throughout and gets the nod. FUN SUCKER loves this track. All four of her career wins have come here and she will be tough to beat. MORTY is a contender.

RACE 2

BARONET woke up and posted a game win last out. She should get a good trip from just off the pace and can make it two in a row in a well matched field. Veteran PROM THEME is still running well and has to be respected. APPEALING JULIA fits with these.

RACE 3

WAVERLY SUNSET drops in for a tag for the first time and has the speed to be in contention throughout. She figures to show big improvement tonight and rates the edge. ROMA DELIGHT has been running well in Maryland. She has never tried the Poly but if she takes to the surface she should be in the mix. DREAMIN’ OF MUNNY has only had two races and is eligible to move forward.

RACE 4

TALKING ZIP is a consistent runner who comes off a game win last out. He has good early speed and the inside post and is capable of another solid effort tonight. SEATTLE TREASURE drops back to the bottom. He ran poorly last out but anything close to his best would make him very tough to beat. IRISH PROUD has an excellent record over this track and is a definite threat.

RACE 5

YELLEN was bothered a bit in the turn but stopped badly when clear in a dull effort. Wes Ward puts her back in a sprint tonight and she can be expected to run much better in this one. ITHACA FALLS is a first-timer from the barn of Tom Drury. If she draws in she figures to be the one to beat. LELE was well backed in her debut and made up some ground late. She will improve.

RACE 6

TIME WARP was away from the races for 14 months and woke up a bit in her third start back. She should move forward again tonight and can win this one for Mike Maker with Gerardo Corrales back aboard. MY SWEET BABOO was claimed from an impressive maiden win and figures to be the main competition. HEAVEN ESCAPE will be running at the end.

RACE 7

JUNKET comes off a couple of dull efforts but drops a notch in class for Genaro Garcia, who is having a very good meet. He should be able to handle this bunch with Ramos back aboard. ALL HANDS ON DECK is riding a two-race win streak against bottom claimers. He moves up for this one but he will be running at the end and is capable of another solid effort. CONTRACTION has the speed to be dangerous.

RACE 8

CABOT TRAIL ran well to finish second in his Turfway debut and appears to be in a good spot to get the win for Lyster and McKee. WALLET comes off a solid maiden score and figures to be the one to beat. LAS ANA fits in here.


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