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 Sunday, Jan. 3
RACE 1
CHIEF BLANCO drops in for a tag for the first time and is the choice to pick up the maiden win here. FEARLESS FREAK is a first time starter for Ward and the Ramsey’s who shows some nice works leading up to his debut. MUCHO ROMEO comes in off a solid effort at this same level and has to be considered.
RACE 2
NELYN’S FLYER drops in class after a solid effort last time out in her first start over the track. She should move forward off of that one and rates a slight edge here. CASH DANCE hasn’t shown much in her last two starts, but was running well before those finishing in the money in each of her seven previous starts. DONNA’S HOLIDAY just missed last time out and definitely looks capable of running well here despite the move up in class.
RACE 3
CALHOUN moves back down in class after just missing back in early December in his first start since September. Any improvement off of that effort would make him tough to beat today. ASK CHUCK ran an even race against tougher in his first start over the track. He drops to a career low claiming level today and looks like the one to beat. RAKEITIN shows two nice efforts at this same level in his last two starts and would be no surprise here.
RACE 4
JUSTFOLLOWMYLEAD comes in off a nice second place finish against similar. He has two wins over the track and looks best in wide-open field. HALF LEADER just missed at long odds last time out in his second start back from the layoff and looks like a contender again today with Ouzts back in the irons. RIPINANDATEARIN is questionable over the track, but has shown some good form over the past year.
RACE 5
M FORTY FOUR drops in class after just missing as the favorite in his first start over the track. He figures to be on or near the lead again today, give him a slight edge here. DREAM BROTHER didn’t fire last time out at Churchill, but drops in class after being claimed by the Ramsey and Maker. SIXES RIVER is a first time starter for Tabor and Ward and picks up Jimenez in his debut today.
RACE 6
T C’S LUV ran a nice third last time out in his first start over the track. He picks up Jimenez today and is the choice for the win here. COLONEL KRENZ was no match for the top two as the favorite last time out, but figures to move forward off of that one and looks like the main competition. GITCHA GOOD moves up in class after a nice maiden win in his first start over the track.
RACE 7
WAYWARD SAILOR was second best as the favorite at this same level last time out, but gets in light again today with Wright and is the choice for the win here. KOWBOY KODY also comes in off a second place finish at this same level here at Turfway. He’s won over the track in the past and definitely looks capable of winning here. EXETER ROAD didn’t show much last time out, but should like the switch in surfaces today and could be dangerous here.
RACE8
FOLLOWTHEMONEYTRAIL had to need his last start after having been off since August and should improve off of that one. He runs coupled with GHOSTLY WONDER who moves up in class after a very impressive win in his first start over the track. Both look capable of winning here and they appear to be in a good spot to pick up the win for Hammond and Willowbrook. SPECIAL DINNER looked very sharp winning here at Turfway last time out. He moves back up in class today and has to be considered.
RACE 9
COOL MOVES makes her first start since June when she ran an even race on the grass at Santa Anita. She’s been training steadily since that one for new trainer Correas and is the choice to pick up the maiden win here. LIBERTY BOND comes in off a second place finish in her first start at Turfway and would be no surprise here. TWELVE JEWELS ran well in each of her two starts at Woodbine this summer and could be dangerous if she’s ready today.