Bret Battaglia sets the morning line at Turfway Park in Florence and provides daily picks and comments for the Trib during the live racing meets.
Picks and comments for Saturday, Dec. 26
RACE 1
AIN’T TOO PROUD just missed in the heavy fog last time out and looks best against a wide-open field. CLOVELLY drops in class after a disappointing effort at Churchill last time out and could be tough if he handles the Polytrack. LATIN WILD CAT drops in class and would be no surprise here.
RACE 2
RILEY ROCKS didn’t fire in his last two at Churchill, but showed some good form against tougher before those. He’s questionable over the surface, but his best should make him a winner on the drop in class. IRUSAN comes in off a nice win in his first start over the track. A repeat of that effort would make him the one to beat again here. BEAT THE STORM has been off since September, but is two for two over the track here.
RACE 3
STORMIN DREAM just missed as the favorite at this same level last time out and looks like she’s in a good spot to pick up the maiden win here. SUAVECITA has been in the money in six of sixteen career starts and is a contender. BAYOU ROYALTY was third behind the top pick last time out and looks capable of running well again.
RACE 4
WONDERFUL MISS BEA shows two even efforts against slightly tougher at Churchill in her last two starts. She’s won over the track here in the past and is the choice for the win in a wide-open field. JOHANNAH JO hasn’t raced since September when she showed some decent form against similar at Presque Isle. She shows some nice works over the track here since that one and could be tough to beat if she’s ready. GRACE’S MIRACLE is inconsistent, but has three wins over the surface.
RACE 5
TIZON moves back down in class after an even effort last time out at Churchill. He ran a solid race at this level in his debut before that one, give him a slight edge here. M FORTY FOUR takes another drop in class in his third start back from the layoff and looks like the main competition. BOURNE COUNTRY went wrong and was eased last time out, but ran a nice second in her debut.
RACE 6
HEY CUZ didn’t show much last time out, coming back from a short layoff. He’s run some strong races over the track in the past and a return to that form could make him a winner here. FRENSHAM drops in class after an even effort in his first start over the track. He looked sharp winning at Churchill before that one and could be tough if he improves in his second start over the track. EPIC PHELPS was running well against similar at Arlington this summer and figures to like the move back to the Polytrack.
RACE 7
TOUCHY FEELY finished a close fifth against a solid field last time out in her first start since August. She should appreciate the move back around two turns and rates a slight edge in a very well-matched field. SPLIT IT has been training well over the track since his last. Maker and Jimenez are always tough when paired together and this one definitely looks capable of running well here despite the move back up in class. BROWN’S BABY comes in off of two third place finishes against tough fields, but is questionable at this distance.
RACE 8
MARTHA ROSE ran a game second at this same level last time out on the move back up in class. She figures to be on or near the lead again here and looks best in another wide-open field. LADY ANN was fourth as the favorite behind the top pick last time out. She picks up Jimenez and definitely looks capable of winning here. THE COLUMBIAN GIRL takes a big drop in class in her first start since May . She showed some good form over the Polytrack at Woodbine early in her career and could be dangerous making her first start since moving to Garcia’s barn.
RACE 9
J.T.’S HEAT drops in class after a nice second place finish in his first start in over a year and looks like he’s in a good spot to pick up the maiden win here. DUKE OF WAYMORE drops in class for Maker and is a threat. SILVER FORKED SKY has been third in half of his fourteen career starts.