Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
SHAMEONSUAVE was third in her Turfway debut and appears to be in a good spot to pick up the win tonight. PICKIN POCKETS showed big improvement in her last race and a repeat of that one makes her the one to beat. LIL MISS TOGA has speed and the inside post.
RACE 2
LUCKY ME LUCKY YOU comes off of a game win in her first try on the Turfway Poly. She is capable of the repeat score with Rodney Prescott back aboard for John Hancock, whose horses have been running very well recently. HERONETTA prefers more distance but chased better in her last couple of races and figures to be tough to beat. NATIVE INDY won at this level two starts back and is a definite threat.
RACE 3
SONOF A MONSTERCAT was a beaten favorite last out but drops to the bottom and anything close to his best makes him a winner for Jeff Greenhill with Quinonez picking up the mount. DYNAMICAL woke up last out after a couple of dull races. He looks like a solid contender with Outzs back aboard. ROYAL WARRANT fits with these.
RACE 4
NATIONAL DEFENCE is a very consistent runner who has finished in the money in 12 of his last 15 races. He has never been today’s marathon distance of a one-and-a-half miles but did win at one-and-a-quarter here in December and looks best tonight. SENOR JUAN hasn’t raced since November but can definitely handle the distance. He figures to be dangerous for Jeff Greenhill with Franklin picking up the mount. COZY KITTEN is another one who can get the distance and has to be respected.
RACE 5
THE GREEN COUGAR has been consistent at this level and gets the nod in a well matched sprint. STANLEY’S FRIEND is a Hawthorne shipper from the barn of Manny Perez. He has run well here in the past and his best makes him dangerous. ROARIN MISSILE is also trained by Perez. He beat a weaker field last out but definitely fits in this one.
RACE 6
TORCH THE VOUCHER takes a big class drop which isn’t a good sign but his hooks a fairly weak bunch and it would be tough to pick against him tonight. FOR THE GLORY has been off since July but hooked better at Gulfstream and looks like the one to beat. I’LL GIVE YOU WAR is a contender.
RACE 7
FINNEGAN has been a beaten favorite at short odds in his last two. He will be heavily favored again but looks like a solid bet to make amends with Quinonez aboard for Wes Ward. CALDERA has been running for a tag but still figures to be the main competition. COSTA MESA comes off of a game maiden win and is a contender.
RACE 8
COOPER’S KEEPER stopped badly last out but has a good overall record here at Turfway. She figures to make the lead tonight and is capable of the wire to wire score with a return to her best form. RULELIKECLEOPATRA is very good right now. She comes off of an impressive win at this level and will be tough to beat. PROM THEME beat the top pick last out and is always dangerous.
RACE 9
HARLAN’S HOWLING takes the big class plunge off of a long layoff but has been training sharply for Mike Maker who figures to have him ready to win at this level. TWENTY GAUGE comes off of a strong maiden win and figures to be the one to beat. MICHAEL rates a chance.