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, March 19
RACE 1
SUMMER CHALET drops in class and rates a slight edge over stablemate CHIEF BLANCO who was second at this level last time out. Either one could win here and it wouldn’t be surprising if they took the top two spots here. CONGRATS TO CUCOS ran a nice third at long odds last time out and looks capable of running well again tonight.
RACE 2
BLUEMYMIND didn’t fire last time out, but looked sharp winning before that one. Give him a slight edge here with Goncalves picking up the mount. GRACE’S DEVIL also followed up his impressive win with a dull effort in his next start. A return to his previous form makes him tough to beat here. GRAND KUMA has been second in each of his last four starts at this same level.
RACE 3
CAM comes in off a nice win against similar and it looks like he’s in a good spot to get another win tonight. UTMOST INTENSITY shortens back up and is a threat. SERGIOS PRIDE moves up in class and picks up Jimenez.
RACE 4
DO I DO was a winner last time out in his first start back from the layoff. He should move forward off of that one and is the choice for the win in a wide-open field. NET PROFIT drew off to win impressively in his last start. A repeat of that effort would make him tough to handle again tonight. ARTIC SKY also comes in off a win and would be no surprise here.
RACE 5
MERCER SLOUGH drops in class after two decent efforts and shouldn’t mind the move around two turns, give her the edge to pick up the maiden win tonight. HARD LOVIN WOMAN takes a big drop in class after a few disappointing efforts for the Ramsey’s and Maker, and picks up Jimenez here. STETSON GAL shows two solid efforts in each of her two career starts and looks capable of running well here.
RACE 6
ARCTIC JOY has shown some good form on the grass at Gulfstream for Ward recently and will be tough to beat here if he takes to the Polytrack. DONTMISSTHEPRIZE has been second in each of his last two starts here at Turfway and is a threat. WHIPSAW shows two even efforts for Maker at the Fairgrounds.
RACE 7
ARVAK shows two solid efforts over the track since coming back from the layoff and looks best in a wide-open field. UNCLE MITCHO didn’t show much in either of his two starts here back in January, but followed those up with two strong efforts on the grass in Texas. He might not like the Polytrack, but his best makes him tough to beat here. I’M STAR STRUCK has been second in two of his last three.
RACE 8
IMPASSABLE CANYON has been impressive winning each of his last two starts against allowance company here at Turfway and is the choice for the win again tonight. PEPPER ROANI was well beaten as the favorite behind the top pick last time out. He’s run some strong races over the track in the past and should put forth a better effort tonight. HOLD MY PURSE has won two in a row coming into this one and could be dangerous here.
RACE 9
BRACIGLIANO moves back down in class to the same level where he won two starts back. Give him a slight edge over uncoupled stablemate TAPANNA who was beaten at odds on in his last start, but has seven wins from fifteen starts over the Turfway strip. SKY ALERT finished behind the top pick last time out and won for a higher price three starts back.
RACE 10
DREAM BROTHER comes in off a nice maiden win and is the choice for the win here. BILLIE R ran a close second against similar in his last and is a definite contender. NO SMALL REWARDS shows two solid efforts against similar in his last two starts.