Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
LADY CHANDLER gets the nod in a fairly weak bottom claimer. PRIME was never in contention in her Turfway debut but should improve off of that effort. SCRAMMY is a solid contender.
RACE 2
PURSUED just missed in her first start back after a seven month layoff. She figures to move forward off of that one and looks like a winner with Mojica back aboard for Phil Sims. GONNA FIND HER has been off for almost a year but drops in for a tag for the first time and has been training well over this track. She is the one to beat. OLA GATITA has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 3
GIANT SECRET was a game maiden winner when dropped to this level last out. He will be rallying off of what figures to be a fast pace and can make it two in a row for Mark Hubley with Jimenez back aboard tonight. TOAST THE KITTEN ran against better at Gulfstream and drops to a career low claiming level for his Kentucky debut. He has been training steadily for Wesley Ward and is definitely the one to beat. BAKU NIGHTS is the only runner in here with two career wins and is a contender.
RACE 4
MIZ LIZ showed some improvement in her last start and has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout with Lezcano picking up the mount tonight. Give her the slight edge in this one. MADDIE’S FUTURE is a three year old taking on the older runners but she won at first asking for Mike Maker and has to be respected. HOT needed her last race after a long layoff and is a contender.
RACE 5
GILDED LILY is a $210,000 Keeneland sales grad who debuts for Mike Maker off of a series of solid works. Maker doesn’t have good numbers with his first timers but this one appears to be ready and rates the edge. WILY and CHARITY STRIPE are both trained by Ben Colebrook but run uncoupled in the betting. They look like the main competition.
RACE 6
PERPETRATOR flashed speed before stopping in his first race back after a seven month layoff. He should improve with that one under his belt and looks like a solid bet to get his maiden win for Bert Crawford with Jimenez picking up the mount. LO’S JOURNEY has been running for a tag but appears to be improving and is the one to beat. FOURTH AND CENTRAL ran evenly in a very quick race last out and is a contender.
RACE 7
CAT’S IN THE MOOD loves this track and figures to get a good trip from just off of the pace. He gets the nod in a very well matched claiming test with Albin Jimenez picking up the mount tonight. FOURTH OF JULY was claimed from a game win at Keeneland back in October. He doesn’t show any works since December but anything close to that performance would make him a winner against this bunch. HUSH UP takes the class drop and will be tough at this level.
RACE 8
CITY WITHOUT PITY was no match for an impressive winner last out but ran very well to finish second. She has the speed to be on or near the lead from the outside post and appears to be in a good spot to win this one. BELLA BE PROUD looked good winning two starts back and was third in a tough field last out. Look for another solid performance from her tonight with Gilligan back aboard. HENNYTHELOVEPENNY exits the same race as the top pick and has to be considered.
RACE 9
DRIFTING WIND is a nine year old veteran who just missed last out at this level. A repeat of that performance would be good enough to win this evening. RAY’S AWAY is the youngest runner in here at age seven and has the speed to be dangerous. DR. CALAHAN rates a chance with Perry Ouzts picking up the mount.