Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Selections for Thursday Dec. 20
RACE 1
LAND OR SEA comes off of a runner-up finish and looks best in a weak maiden claimer. INPLAY stretches out and has the speed to be a contender. SIMPLY FIT drops in class and gets blinkers.
RACE 2
PREEMPTIVE STRIKE moves up the claiming ladder off of a solid second-place finish at Churchill. He shouldn’t mind the move back to Poly and rates the slight edge. CHARGIN STORM drops to a career low claiming level and is the one to beat. BALIZAR is lightly raced and has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 3
SCAT LADY didn’t show much last out against better but drops in class tonight. She broke her maiden over this track last year and has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout. SKY TIME NOW ran evenly against better at Hawthorne last out and looks like the one to beat. TENACIOUS SALLY loves this track. Her best makes her a winner but she has been off since June and may need the race.
RACE 4
PERSONAL CAT comes off of a runner-up effort at this level and a repeat of that one should be good enough to win here. PAMPERED VOW dropped to the bottom last out and finished second. She was claimed from that one and figures to be a solid contender. ELEGANT THUNDER needed her last race after a four-month layoff and could improve.
RACE 5
MARK MY WAY drops to the bottom and figures to be running at the end in a race loaded with early speed. He figures to like the move back to the Poly and his best makes him a winner at this level. OWL CREEK hasn’t shown much recently but likes this track and can wake up tonight. BRIAR HILL BARON has been in the money in 10 of his last 12 races and has to be respected.
RACE 6
SHE’S LOVELY moves up in class after a game win last out. She faces much tougher in here but loves this track and may be able to repeat despite the class hike. BELLA BE PROUD lost her best chance when she stumbled leaving the gate last out. Look for a better effort tonight. QUIGLEY’S CORNER has been off since September but she drops back in for a tag and will be dangerous at this level.
RACE 7
TAPITOR has been having trouble breaking sharply but he made a nice middle move before tiring last out and posted a bullet work earlier this month. A better start could make him a winner with Goncalves picking up the mount for Helen Pitts. RUNABOUT debuts for Wes Ward, who is always tough with his first-timers. This one is training well and figures to be ready for a solid performance. BEAU DAN was well backed in his debut and will appreciate the added distance.
RACE 8
THE CURT FOX has been off since March and drops in class for his return. The drop is a reason for concern but anything close to his best makes him a winner with Garcia up for Ward. SUCKER PUNCHED makes his third start back after a long layoff and is the one to beat. CATAROUX fits in here.