Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Selections for Thursday, Dec. 28
RACE 1
COOPER’S KEEPER is a veteran runner who has won 10 of her 35 races. She drops to the bottom and will be running late in a race that should have a legitimate pace. Give her the edge with Sarvis back aboard. CELTIC GOLD also takes the class drop. She has been off for three months but has been in the money in seven of her eight races this year. She is the one to catch. ROCKAROO comes off of a game win and rates a chance.
RACE 2
INSURGENT ran evenly last out against a better field. He drops back in for a tag tonight and appears to be in a good spot to get his maiden win with Franklin picking up the mount for Susan Anderson. PETTY GAMBIT comes off of solid efforts at Churchill and Keeneland. He figures to be the main competition. BUNZLAUER will be running at the end and his best makes him dangerous.
RACE 3
SUMMERTIME GAL has just one win in 21 races but ran well in her Turfway debut to finish second for Jeff Greenhill. A repeat of that performance should be good enough to win this one. BRILLIANT KITTEN moves up in class after being claimed at Churchill. She ran well over this track in April and figures to be the one to beat. SOUR PEACH comes off of a front-running maiden win and is a contender.
RACE 4
TICKET TO RICHES has been in the money in seven of her 10 races this year. She drops back in against bottom claimers and should be able to handle this bunch with Lebron picking up the mount for Eric Foster. PATTY’S MISCHIEF exits a much tougher starter allowance race and owns two wins over this track. She has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout and has to be respected. GLORY RANGE needed her last race and should improve.
RACE 5
HALLIE’S HERO didn’t take to the yielding turf at Churchill but shouldn’t mind the move to the Poly and rates a slight edge in a race with several well-bred first timers. MAYO’S BID debuts for Bill Connelly off of a series of good works over this track. Hot rider Victor Lebron is named to ride and he looks dangerous in this spot. COURAGE AND HONOR is in the capable hands of Doug Cowans, who has solid numbers with his first-time runners.
RACE 6
GILDED LILY loves this track. She comes off of back-to-back wins for Mike Maker and seems capable of extending her streak with Lebron back aboard tonight. BIG CITY DREAMS was no match for the top pick last out but the cut back to six furlongs should suit her and she is the one to catch. BLACK ANGEL is a shipper from Chicago trained by Manny Perez with Eddie Perez coming for the ride. They have to be respected.
RACE 7
MAGNETIC SPOT just missed last out and gets the nod in a weak claiming test. RUSTY HALO takes the class drop and fits in here. NO LACA TALENT has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 8
JUST BE FRANK was a beaten favorite last out but gets in light with apprentice A.Y. Nunez. He figures to be in contention throughout and rates the slight edge. GALLANT CAUSE was a game second in his debut. That was an extremely slow race but he figures to improve and is the one to beat. CERULEAN SPRINGS beat the top pick last out and is a contender.