Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26
EITELJORG drops a notch in class after a couple of even efforts and appears to be in a good spot to get his maiden win for Phil Sims with Gilligan back aboard. CASTLEFINN is still winless after twenty two starts but finished a length behind the top pick last out and is the one to beat. RIVER KID flashed speed in his Turfway debut and is bred to like the added distance. He drops in for a tag for the first time and could be dangerous in his third career start.
RACE 2
DADDY’S PROFITT makes her third start back after a seven month layoff. She just missed last out and figures to move forward again tonight. Give her the edge with hot riding John McKee picking up the mount. MY CALENDER GIRL drops a notch in class and beat the top pick back in December. She looks like the main competition again tonight. CONSORTS RING is a contender.
RACE 3
ERASCRITTO was a game winner in just his second career start. He should continue to move forward and rates a slight edge against his more seasoned rivals tonight. INNOCUOUS has run well in all three of his races here at Turfway and figures to be tough to beat. CAPTAIN KITTEN has been a beaten favorite in his last two but probably needed those races and is capable of better.
RACE 4
SKY GEM faded after showing some early foot in a much tougher allowance race last out. She broke her maiden for $40,000 at Belmont and looks like a winner as she drops back in for a tag tonight. PATH TO POWER ran well in her last race at Churchill and broke her maiden over this track back in 2015. She has been training steadily for her return and has to be respected. CACTUS LADY has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 5
OLA GATITA just missed when dropped in for a tag last out and can win this one with a similar effort. THISONEISMINE faded after bearing out entering the stretch last out but posted a solid work at Keeneland since that one and could run well tonight. WILLIN’ GRACE is a definite contender.
RACE 6
U S CITIZEN comes off of an even effort against better on the Gulfstream turn and ran well on the all-weather surface in California. He looks like a solid bet to win this for Mike Maker. MUTATION just missed at this level last out for Kim Hammond and is the one to beat with Gilligan back up. ARATHORN has been in the money in nine of his last ten races and has to be respected.
RACE 7
MYDRINKSELECTION lost all chance when she was bumped and carried wide after breaking from the twelve post on the Gulfstream turf. She makes her third career start for Mike Maker and can be expected to run much better tonight. DOUBLE OAKED has been second in both of her races and is definitely the one to beat. LADY SHACKLEFORD finished right behind the second pick last out and has to be considered.
RACE 8
BE PLAYFUL is another consistent runner from the Maker barn. She has been in the money in thirteen of her last sixteen races and comes off of a close up fourth place finish against better at Gulfstream. If she takes to the poly she should be able to win this one tonight. CITY OF TRIX is a nine-year-old veteran who likes the Turfway strip. She was second last out in her first race back after a three month layoff and she figures to be tough tonight. UNIQUE RIDE didn’t fire last out but is capable of better.
RACE 9
EURO CASH is a ten-year-old who hasn’t shown much in his last four races but he could wake up tonight with Perry Ouzts in the saddle. SWEAR needed his last race after a long layoff and figures to improve with Jimenez back aboard. BIG JOHNNY D could win if he draws in off of the also eligible list.