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 Friday, Jan. 1
RACE 1
KATE N ABS REWARD drops in class after a nice win in her first start over the track and is the choice for the win here. HERO WISDOM might have needed her last after having been off since August. She’s shown some decent form on the turf in Florida and looks capable of running well here. GOOSE SKYWALKER figures to move forward in her second start back from the layoff and has won over the surface in the past.
RACE 2
ALL ABOUT BROWNIE comes in off a game effort despite being carried very wide in the stretch. A better trip tonight could make her a winner against a wide-open field. SWAYZE LADY finished ahead of the top pick last time out, but was dq’d for interference in the stretch. She picks up Yuranga tonight and is a definite contender. NO WARRANTY was third at long odds last time out and has three wins over the track.
RACE 3
JUDGE BETH didn’t show much last time out, but should move forward off of that one. She’s run well over the Polytrack in the past and rates a slight edge here. ROYAL ALLUVIAL was a close fourth as the favorite in her last start and looks like the one to beat again tonight. SATURDAY ROMP is inconsistent, but capable of running well here if at her best.
RACE 4
FIRST RODEO was a close second against similar last time out in his first start since October. Any improvement off of that effort would make him tough to handle tonight. MAGNETIC START drops in class after a disappointing effort last time out. He picks up Jimenez tonight and is capable of much better. DADDY DEVINE didn’t show much as the favorite in his first attempt over the surface, but looked sharp winning at Churchill before that one.
RACE 5
SUCCESSFUL BRAT comes in off a nice third place finish here at Turfway at this same level after having been off since September and is the choice for the win here. SHE’S MESSI has been second against similar in each of her last two starts over the track and looks like the main competition. POBLINITA moves up in class after finishing a close second and tries two turns for the first time.
RACE 6
BELLA BE PROUD was second best behind an impressive winner in the slop at Churchill in her last start. She figures to be on or near the lead again and should appreciate the shorter distance tonight. Give her the edge to pick up the maiden win against a lightly raced field. ALWAYS AND FOREVER was well beaten behind the top pick last time out, but ran a decent race on the fast track before that one. SCORE BABE shows some nice works for Ted Lucas leading up to her debut tonight.
RACE 7
NAVAL GAZER has been idle since mid November when he was third against a tough field at Churchill. He shouldn’t mind the move back around two turns and gets lasix for the first time tonight. His best would make him tough to beat here if he takes to the Polytrack. SWEET PLATINUM is questionable at this distance, but has run well in each of his three starts over the surface. STARTRIPENTERPRISE moves up in class after an impressive win in his first start over the track and could be dangerous here.
RACE 8
SWEET RUTH E. looked very sharp breaking her maiden here at Turfway last time out despite having been off since September. A repeat of that effort would make her tough to beat again tonight. LITTLE CHERIE hasn’t shown much in her last few starts, but has been training very well over the track and Maker and Jimenez always have to be respected when paired together. TWIRLABOUT ran a nice second last time out and definitely looks capable of running well again tonight.
RACE 9
OPEN RANGE drops in class after two even efforts and looks like he’s in a good spot to pick up the maiden win here. KEEPING IT REAL ran a nice second at this same level last time out and could be dangerous if he moves forward off that one. SETTLEYOURCRACKERS finished well behind the top pick last time out, but drops in class and figures to show some improvement tonight.