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. 16
RACE 1
FUJITA FIVE drops in class after two even efforts over the track and looks like he’s in a good spot to pick up the win. HIDDEN BROOK comes in off a nice win in his first start over the track and is a contender. ANNIE’S ON TOUR didn’t show much last time out, but had some trouble in that one and could be dangerous on the drop in class.
RACE 2
SUCCESSSFUL PLAN takes a big drop in class in his first start since November when he didn’t fire at Churchill. He ran well in two straight at Keeneland before that one and will be tough to handle here if he takes to the Polytrack. J.T.’S HEAT broke his maiden over the track last time out and looks capable of running well here. AARON AGAIN has been second in each of his last two starts against similar at Mahoning.
RACE 3
MEAN INTENTIONS moves back in for a tag after a few tries against allowance company at Hawthorne. He has the speed to be dangerous here and is the choice for the win with Ouzts picking up the mount. FAVORITE COACH comes in off a nice second place finish at this same level and would be no surprise here. WHERE’S WOODY drops in class in his first start since May and could be dangerous if he’s ready.
RACE 4
The Forego Stakes
DOUBLEDOWN AGAIN didn’t fire at Churchill last time out in the BetOnSunshine Stakes, but was a game second in the Lafayette at Keeneland before that one. He shows a series of bullet works over the track here at Turfway leading up to his return, his best would make him tough to beat here. BIG BLUE SPIRIT looked sharp winning here last time out in his first start in over a year. He’s two for two over the surface here at Turfway and any improvement off of his last effort could make him dangerous here tonight. SIX SPOT ran a game second at long odds in the Prairie Bayou last time out. He’s questionable at this distance, but has been in good form recently.
RACE 5
GHOSTLY WONDER looked sharp winning here two starts back, a repeat of that effort would make him tough to handle again tonight on the drop in class. JOHN ADAMS moves down to this bottom level for the first time and definitely looks capable of running well here. HALF LEADER was beaten as the favorite at this same level last time out and is a contender.
RACE 6
KAY’S REVENGE drops in class after a series of decent efforts at Hawthorne and is the choice to pick up the maiden win here against a weak field. HEY HEY YOU YOU didn’t fire last time out, but should like the move back to sprinting tonight. BAYOU ROYALTY shows two in the money finishes in her last two starts at this level.
RACE 7
TRIBAL CUSTOM has looked very sharp winning each of his last two starts at this same level here at Turfway and is the choice for the win again tonight. SOMALI BYRD has shown some decent form in Chicago and shouldn’t mind the switch in surfaces tonight. LUSTY GIT YER GUN was no match for the top pick last time out, but is capable of better.
RACE 8
VITA DESIDERATA has been idle since early November when he ran a decent race against similar at Churchill. He’s won over the track in the past and is the choice for the win in wide-open field. BACK AWAY has run well in each of his last two starts over the surface and looks like a contender again tonight. HEY CUZ hasn’t shown much in his last two starts, but drops in class again tonight and has to be considered.
RACE 9
BLUEMYMIND just missed last time out despite having some trouble in the stretch. A repeat of that effort should make him a winner tonight. GRACE’S DEVIL has been in the money in his last two starts at this same level and looks like the one to beat. HEROICALLY showed some improvement last time out and has the ability to run well here.