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. 12
RACE 1
AZIPERFORM has been idle since October when she won against state-breds at Indiana. She ran well in each of her four starts over the track last winter and is the choice for the win here. HONEY C had to need her last after coming back from the layoff. She showed some good form before that one against slightly tougher, but is winless in seventeen starts over the track here at Turfway. RUPERTACTOFDUTY has two wins and two second place finishes in her last four starts at Belterra and owns a win over the surface.
RACE 2
SHE’S THE TOPS drops to this bottom level for the first time in her first start back since September when she didn’t fire as the favorite on the dirt at Indiana. She should like the switch in surfaces tonight and looks tough to beat here if she returns to form. ALL ABOUT BROWNIE has won three of her last four at Thistle and shows a nice work over the track leading up to her return. REWARDBYBLITZING has been in the money in half of her fourteen starts this year and loves the track here at Turfway.
RACE 3
DANCING VISION comes in off an even race against similar at Churchill and gets in light tonight with apprentice Wright who is still looking for his first win at Turfway. She won two of three over the track here last winter and could score here at decent odds. HERSILIA takes a big drop in class in her first start back since August. Her best would make her tough to beat here if she’s ready. BYE BYE BUNTING didn’t fire at Thistle last time out, but was running well at Presque Isle at this level before that one and should like the move back to synthetics.
RACE 4
THE GREEN COUGAR was an impressive winner at Thistle in his last start back in October. He’s never raced over the surface at Turfway, but has two wins over the Polytrack at Arlington, give him a slight edge in a wide-open field. WHY I AM has been idle since September when he showed some decent form at this same level at Ellis. He should be able to handle the move to the Polytrack and is capable of running well here if at his best. INDIANA CHARLIE didn’t fire at Churchill last time out, but ran a decent race at Keeneland in the mud before that one. He’s won over the track before and would be no surprise here.
ALPHA SLEW didn’t take to the dirt last time out, but is primarily a turf and synthetics horse and should love the move to Turfway tonight. He was in very good form this summer, winning four of seven starts over two different surfaces and rates a slight edge in an absolutely wide open starter allowance field. LIMONTE moves back up a notch in class after being claimed at Churchill last time out where he drew off to win by four at odds-on. He’s questionable on the Polytrack, but has run some strong races against tougher and will be tough to beat here if he handles the surface. STRIKE THE NOTE has shown some good form recently at Hawthorne and Presque Isle and definitely looks capable of running well here.
RACE 6
LET’S GO BEN was over-matched against stakes company at Ky. Downs in his first start back from the layoff, but ran two even races at Keeneland and Churchill after that one. He looked sharp winning over the track here last winter and is the choice for the win on move down for a tag. CAT’S IN TEH MOOD looked sharp winning each of his starts here last year. A return to that form makes him the one to beat with Jimenez back in the irons. MORE THAN NOBLE comes in off a nice second place finish at Churchill and has three wins over the surface here.
RACE 7
FRENSHAM moves up in class after being claimed at Churchill last time out where he won impressively. He’s never raced over the surface, but shows two decent works over it since his last. His best makes him tough to beat here. SONOF A MONSTERCAT drops in class after a few even efforts at Indiana. He won at this level here at Turfway last winter and looks like the one to beat here. HEY CUZ has only been out of the money twice in fifteen starts over the track and is definitely capable of winning here.
RACE 8
GRATEFUL LIFE moves back up against allowance company after being claimed at Churchill last time out in his first start since July. He broke his maiden very impressively in his only start over the surface at Turfway and looks best against a solid allowance field. APOSTLE PAUL is one for twenty six lifetime, racing primarily on the west coast, but is consistent and has the ability to win here. NORDISTE didn’t fire in his last two starts, but should like the move back to Turfway.
RACE 9
PUNTEADA just missed last time out at Mountaineer in her first start at this bottom level and is the choice to pick up the maiden win here. PINCHAS moves back down in class in her first start since September and shouldn’t mind the move to the Polytrack. MARY FIRED AGAIN looks capable of running well here.