Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meet.
FRIDAY, MARCH 3
ZARCAT hooked much better in her first race back after a four month layoff. She drops in class for Doug Coyle and figures to run much better tonight. PRIME moves up in class after a decent effort and is the one to beat. EXTOL moves back to the Poly and has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 2
MAJOR DARBY comes off of two narrow losses at this level and appear to be in a good spot to pick up the win with Ouzts back aboard tonight for Larry Smith. WICKED PICKETT has been idle since July but drops to the bottom for his return and has a solid record over the Turfway strip with Gilligan picking up the mount. SIVA is a definite threat.
RACE 3
WAR POINT ran well in his last two races and figures to get a good trip from off of the pace with Cory Orm picking up the mount. He can spring the mild upset tonight. BELL BY THE RIDGE is a ten year old veteran who figures to be the solid favorite. He is definitely the one to beat. COPUS has the tactical speed to be dangerous.
RACE 4
WEDDING DAY KITTEN ran well to finish second at this level last out and looks like a winner with hot riding Albin Jimenez back aboard for Mike Maker. ICE FREEZE was well bet in her debut but ran poorly. Ben Colebrook adds blinkers and Lasix for her return and she is capable of running much better tonight. SAMURAI JEAN drops a notch in class and will be dangerous if she handles the move to the Poly.
RACE 5
SHOOT FOR THE MOON debuts for Wesley Ward. She posted a bullet work here on February 22nd and figures to be ready to go this evening. COVEY RISE is a Claiborne runner who debuts for Tom Drury off of steady works at Skylight. She is the one to beat. BLACKBERRY FARM is in the capable hands of Ben Colebrook and has to be respected.
RACE 6
TIZ SARDONIC JOE has been running very well at this level for Kim Hammond. He is a bit suspect at this distance but still rates the edge in this starter allowance race. CROOKED COURT moves up in class after a solid win and could run well despite the class hike. THE GORILLA MAN is a definite threat.
RACE 7
WALLSTREET FLASH is a seven year old who ran very well in his Polytrack debut while coming off of a four month layoff. He should move forward off of that one and gets the nod in this bottom claimer. TIZNOW R J has been off since October but drops to a career low claiming level and will be very tough if he handles the surface. DETERMINED BRAEDON fits with these.
RACE 8
YOU CHEATED has shown improvement in each of her four races. She just missed last out after reeling off two wins in a row over the Turfway surface and should be able to handle the added distance. Give her the slight edge over EQHO in a close call. EQHO looked very sharp winning her last race and a repeat of that one makes her dangerous with John McKee back aboard tonight. KNOCKOUT GIRL is good right now.
RACE 9
CHARITY STRIPE was no match for Gilded Lily last out but that one came right back to win again next out. Give her the edge in the finale. R LADY HANSEN debuts for Kendall Hansen and Mike Maker off of a series of solid works. She figures to be ready to go at first asking and will be tough with Jimenez up. CONQUEST CLASSIC is a definite candidate to improve and rates a chance.