Turfway Park provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Friday, Dec. 23 – picks brought to you by Mike Battaglia
RACE 1
SEATTLE FIRM just missed last out at this level. He appears to be in a good spot to get the win at short odds. HERMOSA VAWUERA exits the same race as the top pick and should complete the exacta. SPEND AND SPREE is a contender.
RACE 2
PRIMO RIVERA looks like another short priced winner. He was second last out for Mike Maker and has the speed to lead all the way tonight. AIR RAID should get a good trip from the inside post and is the one to beat. BIG BROWN SEVENS will be running at the end.
RACE 3
ACADEMY BAY drops a notch in class and gets blinkers for the first time tonight. He has never raced on Poly but if he handles the track he will be hard to beat at this level. THE GORILLA MAN owns a win over the Turfway surface and ran a good race at nice odds last out. He figures to run well in here with Lezcano picking up the mount. BIG JOHNNY D. has the speed to be a contender.
RACE 4
MIZ LIZ is a lightly raced three year old who comes off of a couple of decent efforts. She cuts back to six furlongs for this one and if she breaks well from the inside post she can beat these. MERCER SLOUGH has just one win in sixteen starts but has been in the money ten times and is the one to beat. VENITIAN will be running at the end.
RACE 5
KITTEN’S MATRIARCH debuts for Wes Ward off of a series of steady works. She should be ready to go and gets the nod with Quinonez picking up the mount. HALO’S PARADISE comes off of a couple of decent races and looks like a solid contender at this level. HANSEN’S GIRL didn’t appear to take to the Poly in her local bow for Mike Maker but anything close to her best would make her very dangerous.
RACE 6
PURE LEGACY finished a game third after pressing the pace throughout in her last start. She rates the edge with Ouzts back aboard tonight. PROM THEME is a veteran runner from the barn of Doug Danner who has won five races over the Turfway strip. She should be in good position throughout and is definitely the one to beat. CALL ME ANNA is a contender in a wide open race.
RACE 7
THE HANS SUM ONE debuts for Mike Maker with just one published work so make sure to check out the late works for more information. He is by champion two year old Hansen and Maker will probably have him ready to go tonight. RUN THE ALLEY is one of the few in here who have started and should move forward off of that last effort. WAZZUP CHUCK is training well.
RACE 8
RAKEITIN comes off of a game win last out and is in a good spot to make it two in a row for Larry Lay with Quinonez back aboard. SHUTTER SPEED drops a notch in class and figures to be the main competition. GAME ON BRO also takes the class drop and fits in here.
RACE 9
DURANGO DAN was second in his debut and figures to move forward off of that effort. Give him the slight edge in here. MASONIO has been running for a tag but just missed last out at Churchill. He will be tough despite the class hike. COWBOY QUINN is a solid contender in his third career start.