Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
THURSDAY, MARCH 16
VENETIAN moves back down in class after a couple of attempts in Texas and shouldn’t mind the move back to the Polytrack. HANG ON ANNIE didn’t fire as the favorite last time out, but is capable of better. FANCY IS MY NAME comes in off a win over the track and is a threat.
RACE 2
HURRICANE FORCE is the only one with prior starts in this field and will be tough to beat here. BLAME BERNIE is one of two first time starters from Drury’s barn who both look capable of running well here. YESSUH shows some solid works leading up to tonight.
RACE 3
HIPPOLYTE just missed last time out and figures to be running at the end again tonight, give her a slight edge here. CELTIC GOLD shows two wins and a second in her last three starts here at Turfway and is the one to beat. CURIOUS RUTH drops in class and has to be considered.
RACE 4
DR. CALAHAN comes in off a nice win over the track, a repeat of that effort would make him tough to beat again tonight. SWEAR shows two solid efforts in each of his last two starts and would be no surprise here. TATTAGLIA won here two starts back and could be dangerous again tonight.
RACE 5
PORTER STREET has been second best in each of his two starts and looks like he’s in a good spot to pick up the maiden win tonight. HOWELL MOUNTAIN has been off since October, but a return to his previous form makes him a definite contender. KINGS WISH has been in the money in two of his last three and is a threat.
RACE 6
BATTEN THE HATCHES moves up in class after winning his second in a row and rates a slight edge in a well-matched field. BELVIN looked sharp winning at this level last time out and would be no surprise again tonight. HEUSTON has been off since November, but is definitely capable of running well here.
RACE 7
PARKERELIZABETH has been beaten as the favorite in four of her last five starts, but still looks best here. G CODE finished well behind the top pick last time out. FLASHY JULIA has a chance.
RACE 8
FOLLOW THE PETALS was over-matched against stakes company last time out, but looked sharp winning here before that one and looks like she’s in a good spot to pick up another win tonight with Jack Gilligan picking up the mount. NOPENNIESFORME has only been out of the money once in four career starts and is the one to beat. PORRIDGE comes in off a nice maiden win and has to be considered.
RACE 9
ITZPAPALOTL drops in for a tag for the first time and looks best here. PEGASUS KITTEN broke her maiden over the surface here in her last start and looks capable of running well again tonight with Jimenez back aboard. SKY HI SUGAR was second against similar last time out and is a contender.