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, Feb. 28
RACE 1
SECRET DIARY drops in class after a nice win last time out and will be tough to beat here. TIA CHUY also takes a big drop in class and could be dangerous here. GIVEMHAYLEGAYLE just missed at this same level two starts back and looks like a contender.
RACE 2
NASDROVIA was third at this same level last time out in her first start back since early December. She should move forward off of that one, give her the edge to pick up the maiden win here. DREAM BROTHER has been second as the favorite in each of her last three starts. She figures to be a short price again tonight, but is definitely the one to beat. ROBERTS ROGUE finished just behind the favorite in her last start and is a threat.
RACE 3
GRACE’S DEVIL looked sharp drawing off to win by five last time out. A repeat of that effort would make him tough to beat again today. LOGAN CREEK shows a win and a second in his last two starts at this level and looks like the main competition. GRAND KUMA moves back around two turns after three second place finishes in a row around one turn.
RACE 4
SALTY RIM didn’t fire last time out on the move back down to this bottom level, but hooks a slightly softer spot tonight and is the choice for the win here. PROVEN WARRIOR disappointed last time out, but showed some solid form against tougher before that one. He drops in class and picks up Jimenez today. KAWAH’S WARRIOR was well beaten last time out, but drops in class and should move forward in his second start back from the layoff.
RACE 5
PRIZE PERFECTION drops in class and looks best against a soft field today. ON THE CENTERLINE went wrong in her last start, but was an impressive maiden winner over the track before that one. A return to that form would make her tough here. SPECIAL DIAMOND has been in the money in three of her last four and would be no surprise here.
RACE 6
GHOSTLY WONDER moves back up in class after another sharp win here at Turfway and will be tough to beat again today. FARLEYS MANDATE beat the top pick a few starts back, but hasn’t shown much since that one. ETERNAL RULER was no match for the top pick last time out, but can’t be left out of the gimmicks.
RACE 7
CJ’S FIRE ran a solid race, despite having some trouble, going around two turns at first asking. She should move forward for Gorder off of that one, give her a slight edge against a very well-matched maiden field. MAKE IT MARIA has been a close second in each of her last three starts here at Turfway and looks like the one to beat again today. YEARNING comes in off a nice third place finish and gets blinkers for the first time today.