Turfway Park provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Saturday Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve picks brought to you by Mike Battaglia
RACE 1
PERFECT PASSION drops in for a tag for the first time and appears to be in a good spot to get her maiden win for Mike Maker with Channing Hill aboard. NO LACA TALENT also takes the class drop and has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout. HOLIDEJAVU flashed speed at Gulfstream and is a contender.
RACE 2
SCISSORS AND TAPE is on a steady decline but the move back to Poly and the drop to the bottom should make him a winner tonight. SHUTTER SHOCK ships up from Gulfstream West and moves to the barn of Olivo Inirio whose horses are running well right now. CAPE FLATTERY fits in here with Ouzts in the irons.
RACE 3
PALATINE HILL is a nine year old veteran who has won four of his last five races including a sharp score last out over this track. He looks like a good bet to win again tonight. DYNAMICAL didn’t show much last out but won here earlier this month and Quinonez picks up the mount. PIONEER JUSTICE will be running at the end and a good trip makes him dangerous.
RACE 4
SONNY SHORT STACK has been unbelievably consistent since being claimed by Elliot Sullivan for $5,000 back in 2015. She has finished first or second in fourteen of her last sixteen races and loves the Turfway strip. She is well placed for another score this evening with Albin Jimenez making his return to Turfway. RULELIKECLEOPATRA also likes this track. She was claimed last out by Kim Hammond who has very good numbers with her first claims. DISCREET KISS has the speed to be a contender.
RACE 5
MIGHTY SKY comes off of a couple of dull efforts but drops in against bottom claimers and anything close to his best would make him a winner at this level. BOOMBOSH has been in the money in six of his eight races but has been beaten as the heavy favorite on several occasions. BRAD’S WAGER fits in here.
RACE 6
STATE LINE stopped badly last out after chasing a fast early pace. That was just his second race back after a long layoff and he should benefit from the effort. Look for an improved performance in this bottom claimer. JORDY JACK SPLASH has shown steady improvement and is the one to beat. IT’S ROBIN take the class drop after hooking better at Gulfstream West and is a solid threat in what looks like a wide open race.
RACE 7
ART’S SILVER moves up in class after a front running score here earlier this meet. He figures to make the lead again tonight and will be tough to catch with a repeat of that last performance. HUSH UP has been running against better and was second when dropped to this level last out. He will be running at the end and is the one to beat. STAN’S OLD HABITS comes off of a nice win at Churchill and can’t be dismissed.
RACE 8
TAPIT WICKED and SMARTY KITTEN (The Ramsey entry) both look like solid contenders in this one. Give the edge to TAPIT WICKED who comes off of a narrow loss sprinting and should like tonight’s added distance with Channing Hill back abaord. IMPASSABLE CANYON has been off since October but has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout and could be tough to catch. CALM PACIFIC drops a notch in class and fits in here.
RACE 9
IRISH FILIBUSTER drops to the bottom for Ramsey’s/Maker and should win at short odds. ROSE’S VALENWINE ran well in his Turfway debut and figures second best with Jack Gilligan back aboard tonight. AGGRO CRAG will be tough if ready but has been off since July with no published works.