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, Jan. 2
RACE 1
BOLD VISIONARY didn’t show much last time out, but is capable of better and is the choice for the win on the move back down in class. J.M.’S PARADE moves back around two turns after finishing second at this same level last time out and looks like a contender. MIGHTY SKY drops in class after two even efforts and definitely looks capable of running well here.
RACE 2
BAJA BESSIE was third as the favorite last time out in her first start since early October. She has three wins from nine starts over the track, give her a slight edge here. DREAM PEGASUS finished just behind the top pick last time out and would be no surprise here. SPEND AND SPREE makes her second start back from the long layoff and has five wins over the surface here at Turfway.
RACE 3
MY EKATI PRINCESS ran a nice second at long odds in her debut during the Holiday meet. Any improvement off of that effort would make her tough to handle tonight. SCAT LADY was well beaten as the favorite here last time out, but should appreciate the move back to sprinting and is capable of better. RANGERS FUNNY GIRL has been third in two of five career starts and gets lasix for the first time tonight.
RACE 4
The Wintergreen Stakes
SERENE MELODY has been idle since early November when she was fourth in the Chilukki at Churchill. She should like the move back to a synthetic track where all three of her lifetime wins have come, including a win here at Turfway. She has the speed to be in contention throughout, give her the slight edge here. EMOTIONAL KITTEN shows two solid races as the favorite in each of her last two starts. Her best would make her tough to beat here if she handles the Polytrack. COMPELLING CASE moves back up against stakes company after a nice win at Churchill last time out and should mind the switch in surfaces tonight.
RACE 5
PURE LEGACY moves back up in class after winning her second in a row at Churchill when she was claimed and could be tough to beat here if she handles the move to the Polytrack. MELLO KISSES comes in off a nice win over the track against similar. She has two wins and a second from four starts over the track and looks like the one to beat tonight. APPEAL TO THE WIN was well beaten as the favorite last time out in her first start since October, but is capable of better.
RACE 6
VITA DESIDERATA hasn’t raced since early November when she ran an even race against similar at Churchill. He’s won over the track in the past and could be dangerous if he’s ready tonight. THESTARVINGARTIST shows two solid efforts in each of his last two starts here at Turfway and definitely looks capable of winning here. STARSHIP CAPTAIN has been third at this same level in his last two starts and figures to run well again tonight.
RACE 7
THREE LOVES AND ME moves back around two turns after a nice second at this same level last time out in her first attempt over the surface. Any improvement off of that one could make her tough to beat here. DANCE ELECTRIC couldn’t get it done at odds on last time out, but didn’t run poorly. She ran a game second at Keeneleand against slightly tougher before that one and could be tough if she handles the move to the Polytrack. SECRET TRICK drops in for a tag for the first time after two disappointing efforts and has to be considered.
RACE 8
PLEASE DADDY comes in off a second place finish at this same level in her first start since early October. She figures to move forward off of that one and has won over the Polytrack in the past. MY BIRTHDAY GAL has been off since May when she showed some decent form against tougher. She won the last time she raced at this level, last winter here at Turfway, and shows some nice works leading up to her return. LOCUST TRACE didn’t fire last time out, but has two wins over the track and should show improvement tonight.
RACE 9
DANUBE RIVER drops in class after a nice third place finish in her first attempt over the surface here at Turfway. A repeat of that effort would make her tough to beat here. EL OF A CAT didn’t show much in her first start over the track, but looks like the one to beat on the drop in class. PUPPY ON A STRING drops in class and has a chance.