Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meet.
THURSDAY, MARCH 9
POM POM POWER looked good winning her Turfway debut in her first start for Bert Crawford. Look for her to make it two in a row with Quinonez picking up the mount tonight. HEY JUDY ran well in her first start back after a five month layoff. She figures to be the main competition. ULURU is also trained by Crawford and fits with these.
RACE 2
ERASCRITTO was overmatched against starter allowance runners last out but drops back to the bottom tonight. He rates a slight edge in what looks like a very well matched race. SQUEEZE THE KING just missed in his last race and a repeat of that one makes him the one to beat. VICTORY SALSA should get a good trip from the inside post and is a solid threat.
RACE 3
BELA MENINA has been first or second in all five of her starts since moving to the barn of Kim Hammond. She moves up in class after two solid wins but is capable of extending her streak despite the class hike. PRINCESS DINAH looked sharp winning at this level last out. She will have no problem with tonight’s added distance and will be hard to beat. SEATTLE FIRM was in too tough in her last race but fits with these.
RACE 4
LI’LBITO’GOLD showed big improvement in her second start back after an eight month layoff. She should move forward again tonight. ALWAYS LOVE APRIL beat the top pick last out and looks like the one to beat with Ouzts back aboard. RED RAVEN will like the move back to a mile and is a definite contender in another wide open race.
RACE 5
WALLFLOWER has been idle since July but Dane Kobiskie has solid numbers with runners coming off of the layoff. She faced better at Gulfstream and has the speed to lead all the way as she drops in against bottom claimers. FIRST PUNCH also takes the class drop. She moves to the barn of Bert Crawford and looks like the main competition. SHESELLSSANCTUARY is a contender.
RACE 6
GOOSE SKYWALKER likes this track and hooks a fairly weak field. Her best would make her a winner in here. JUDSONSPRETTYGIRL comes off of a couple of decent efforts and Quinonez picks up the mount tonight. MEGA SENNA is a contender and shouldn’t be left out of the gimmicks.
RACE 7
READY TO FIGHT drops in class after a decent effort against better. He should be tough to beat tonight. SOUTH UPPER ran well when dropped to this level last out and has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout. RUFEELINGLUCKY is a contender.
RACE 8
SWEET RUTH E. woke up last out after two dull efforts. She has the speed to be on or near the lead and looks like a solid bet to win this one with Jimenez aboard for Mark Thomas. IN THE SHOES chased the top pick last out and figures to run well tonight. MISS COCO broke her maiden at Churchill and has been training well on the Poly at Keeneland in the capable hands of Phil Sims and his assistant Matthew Sims with Jack Gilligan picking up the mount tonight.
RACE 9
HINT TO WIN was third in his U.S, debut and should improve off of that effort. He drops a notch in class and can win this one with Quinonez picking up the mount. PRIVATE SPOT has been running against better at Tampa Bay Downs. If he takes to the Poly he will be very tough to beat. NUMBERS NEVER LIE rates a chance.