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, March 18
RACE 1
TAMIAMI TRAIL comes in off of two second place finishes over the track and is the choice to pick up the win here. BUMBLE BIZZ showed a great deal of improvement winning in her first start over the track. UNFAITHFUL had to need her last affter having been off for nearly a year and should move forward off of that one.
RACE 2
TRICE UP has been in good form recently, with two wins and a second place finish in his last four starts at Turfway. He figures to be on or near the lead tonight, give him a slight edge here with Ouzts picking up the mount. MAGNETIC START has won two of his last three and looks like the one to beat. NIGHT LEAGUE moves back down to the level where he crossed the wire first in two in a row earlier this meet.
RACE 3
HUNDREDS ran a nice second on the drop in class last time out, give him a slight edge against a wide-open maiden field. RUMLAD is a first time starter for Wesley Ward who has been training steadily here at Turfway leading up to tonight. HUGHHOOFNER likes to run second, but has the ability to win here.
RACE 4
CAUSE I’M ALEX has looked sharp winning each of his last two starts over the track and will be tough to beat again tonight. BOOMER SIX was second behind the top pick two starts and followed that one up with a win. He beat the top pick earlier this year and looks like the main candidate to spring the upset again. BAHAMA RUM PUNCH has a chance.
RACE 5
JUSTFOLLOWMYLEAD has been running well against similar recently and is the choice for the win against a wide-open field tonight. THE DUCK OF REED finished just behind the top pick last time out and is a definite contender. ZAK BENATE might need a race having only raced once in nearly two years, but has had success over the Turfway surface in the past.
RACE 6
GOOSE SKYWALKER has shown some improvement recently with a win and a second in her last two starts and could score again here at decent odds. ABBYS PROMISE takes a big drop in class in her second start back from a long layoff and will be tough to beat here if she’s ready. ANNIE’S ON TOUR ran a nice race on the drop in class last time out and is a contender.
RACE 7
AFLEET LADY ran a nice second in her debut earlier this meet. She’s bred to like the added distance, give her the edge against a well-matched maiden field. MAJESTIC SMILE has shown some even form on the grass in Florida recently and shouldn’t mind the move to the Polytrack tonight. PRINCESS DROSSIE has run well in each of her three starts over the track and would be no surprise here.
RACE 8
CHUCKMATE shortens back up after a disappointing effort last time out and looks best here. COVER BOY just missed in his last start and has five wins over the track. CELTIC DRAMA makes his first start since October, but shows some solid works over the track coming into tonight.
RACE 9
SICARIUS ran a game second in his debut on the turf at Gulfstream. A repeat of that effort would make him tough to beat tonight. EERILY shows some solid works for Gorder leading up to his debut. BUD’S BAYONET ran a nice second here at long odds back in December and shortens up for his return.
RACE 10
KITTEN’S WARRIOR was second best at odds on on the drop in class last time out. He’d be tough to back at a short price against a solid field tonight, but still looks best here. NOCHE AZUL has run well in his last two and should run well again tonight. WICKED MOVER moves all the way down to this bottom level for the first time and has to be considered.