Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2
NEO VIBRANT drops in class and hooks a weak bunch. He figures to break his maiden with Quinonez back aboard for Ben Colebrook. BIG BROWN SEVENS comes off of a runner up effort at this level and looks second best. I’LL GIVE YOU WAR stopped badly in his first race back after a long layoff and figures to improve.
RACE 2
INFILTRATION ran a decent race in his poly track debut and drops back in against bottom claimers. He has the speed to be on or near the lead and can win this one with his best performance. WEAVERS ICE COLD takes the big class drop which isn’t a good sign but posted a bullet work over this track a couple of weeks ago. He can definitely win but figures to be a short price so I’ll try to beat him. DOURO is a contender.
RACE 3
NEVERADULLMOMENT figures to be running late in a race with plenty of early speed. He has won three of four over the Turfway surface and looks like a good bet to add another win tonight. AESOP comes off of a hard fought front running score. He should get a good trip from the inside post and is the one to beat. SPANISH JUSTICE drops in class and if he takes to the Poly he will be dangerous.
RACE 4
SEATTLE FIRM looked good winning last out and can make it two in a row for Larry Smith with Ouzts back aboard tonight. BAJA BESSIE needed her last race after a short layoff. She likes this track and will appreciate the move back to the one mile distance. SWEET ROCK is good right now and has to be considered.
RACE 5
IN THE SHOES has run her best races over this track and exits a solid third place finish against better. Give her the slight edge in what looks like a well matched maiden test. SHE’SOVERTHEMOON didn’t show much in her local bow but will probably move forward off of that one and can run much better tonight. PINATA CAT has been off since October but gets blinkers for this one and has been training well for her return.
RACE 6
MAIN MAN MIKE has been solid at this level and looks like a good bet to handle this field. TWICE MIKE was second in his first start back after a long layoff. He is winless in his last ten starts but figures to be the one to beat in here. SIVA has early speed and the inside post with Quinonez picking up the mount tonight.
RACE 7
YOU CHEATED looked very sharp winning back to back races over this track. She appears to be getting better with every start and rates the slight edge over CONTRASTING in a close call. CONTRASTING is a six year old with just five career starts. She lost her best chance here in December when she broke poorly but if she makes the lead she will be tough to catch for trainer Tom Drury and Malcolm Franklin in the irons. NORTHERN MICHIGAN comes off of a game win and has to be respected.
RACE 8
SUDDEN FAME was a high priced two year old purchase who didn’t show much in her first four races but put it all together last out and won impressively. She faces a tough allowance field tonight but seems capable of the repeat score with John McKee back aboard. PARC CELESTE has finished in the money in all nine of her races here at Turfway. She comes off of a good third place finish and is the one to beat. IMPOSSIBLE TALE broke poorly in her last race and should run better tonight with Jack Gilligan picking up the mount.
RACE 9
HANG ON ANNIE comes off of a couple of solid runner up efforts and has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout in this one. ROHAN ran well last out and a repeat of that one makes her dangerous with Jack Gilligan in the saddle for trainer Doug Coyle who is having a solid meet. GLORY RANGE could add some value to the gimmicks.