Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7
Race 1
NO APRES VOUS showed nothing in his debut but drops in for a tag and hooks a very weak field. COLEAQUILUS gets blinkers for the first time and could improve. NO PICTURE CHARLIE fits in here.
Race 2
ENHANCED EDITION has raced mostly against tougher opposition and figures to handle this field of bottom claimers. KID CREED woke up last out in his first race on the Poly and looks like the one to beat. MR. COMPASS drops back in class and has run well here in the past.
Race 3
DREAM BOAT ANNA is bred to run early, as both her sire and dam won at first asking. She is training steadily for Mike Maker and rates the slight edge in what looks like a well matched maiden race. STELLAR STILETTO comes off a couple of solid efforts at Keeneland and Churchill and has the speed to be dangerous. WHOS TO BLAME is a well bred runner in the capable hands of Darrin Miller. Her sire made his debut at Turfway and went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2010.
Race 4
PONY UP was second in the Jeff Ruby for Todd Pletcher and makes his third start since moving to the barn of Jack Sisterson. He didn’t handle the sloppy track at Churchill last out but appears to be in a good spot to pick up the win with the move back to the Poly. LUCKY BODE needed his last race after a ten-month layoff. Look for a much better performance from him tonight. WELLES CROWTHER seems to find trouble in most of his races but a clean trip will make him tough to beat.
Race 5
SHACKLED flashed speed before stopping in the stretch last out. That was his first race since April and he gets the nod for Mike Maker with Prescott picking up the mount. BREAK THE DEAL is still a maiden after 17 tries but comes off a good effort over this track and is the one to beat. GRANDPA FRANK has raced mainly in longer races but is a solid threat.
Race 6
RULELIKECLEOPATRA does her best racing here at Turway, where she has won eight times and been in the money in 13 of her 15 races. Doug Danner drops her in class and she looks like a solid bet to return to her winning ways tonight. GALES OF NOVEMBER was third in a race here last Friday and a repeat of that one makes her dangerous. BUDGET CUT is a contender.
Race 7
SPEEDY SOLUTION broke her maiden at Saratoga and ran evenly last out in the G2 Jessamine over the Keeneland lawn. She figures to win this one for the hot team of Wes Ward and Luan Machado. CITY DIVA also ran well in the Jessamine, setting the pace and finishing just a length behind the top pick. Throw out the last one in the slop and she is definitely the one to catch. ARCH AVENUE looks best of the rest.
Race 8
MISCHIEVIOUS KAT drops to the bottom and her best would be good enough to win this one. MIDNIGHT TALE has been running against easier at Mountaineer but is good right now and is the one to catch. ROCKPORT DANCER rates a chance.
