Turfway Park provides daily picks and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Sunday, Dec. 18
SWEET ROCK comes off of a game win and appears to be in a good spot to make it two in a row. SLAZARRA was beaten by the top pick last out but didn’t run her best in that one and is capable of improvement. PRIZE PERFECTION comes off of a sharp score at Mountaineer and owns a win over the Turfway strip.
RACE 2
THUNDERCLOUD drops to the bottom and gets the nod in a fairly weak field. RANSOM’S LOVE will like the shorter distance and has the speed to be dangerous. IT’S ROBIN has been dull recently but also takes the class drop and fits in here.
RACE 3
PERFECT PASSION ran evenly against much better at Churchill last out. Maker drops her in for a tag and she should win at short odds. EYE ON THE MONEY ran in a key race at Ellis back in August but failed to fire next out. She also takes the class drop and looks second best. BLUEGRASS KITTY debuts for Susan Anderson, whose horses are running very well right now.
RACE 4
MY CALENDER GIRL faded a bit in the stretch last out going a mile but should appreciate the shorter distance tonight. Give her the slight edge with Quinonez picking up the mount. ALITTLECOMPLICATED dropped in class to win at Churchill back in September. She hasn’t raced since that start but if she is ready she will be tough to beat. DONNA’S HOLIDAY has the speed to be in contention throughout.
RACE 5
HEAT IT UP RICH just missed last out and a repeat of that performance should be good enough to win here. INNOCUOUS was right behind the top pick last out and is the one to beat again tonight. ALAZAN SHINER should like the move back to Poly and fits with these.
RACE 6
NORVANA LUCY ran a decent race over the Turfway Poly in just her second career start. Brian Waltz adds blinkers and she figures to move forward off of that effort. Give her the edge with Prescott back aboard. LAND is winless in 17 starts but has run well in both of her starts here and beat the top pick back on December 1st. BRENDAS CONQUEST is a contender.
RACE 7
RANK is a lightly raced four year old with just two starts in the U.S. He drops in for a tag after a dull effort in Indiana but he had trouble at the start in that one and is capable of a much better effort tonight. Give him the slight edge in a tough race. ARCHIBALDO has just one win in twenty starts but that score did come here at Turfway. He has run against better and he will be hard to beat. SCARECROW has been very consistent and is solid threat.
RACE 8
PALANTINE HILL is a nine-year-old veteran who is still running well. He has won four of his last five and appears to be in a good spot for a front running score tonight with Lezcano back aboard for Olivo Inirio. BLUEMYMIND chased the favorite last out and looks second best again in here. MAJOR DARBY has the speed to be a contender.
RACE 9
FIRST GROWTH took the big class plunge to break his maiden here earlier in the meet. The fact that he is back in at the bottom is a reason for concern but a repeat of that last one would be good enough to win again. NUMBER ONE should get a good trip from the inside post and is a solid contender. BANSHA rates a chance.