Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia selections for Saturday Feb. 10
RACE 1
MR GREY was no match for a runaway winner last out but ran a decent race to finish fourth. He will be rallying from off of what figures to be an honest pace and gets the nod in a very well matched race. EMMETT’S DREAM figures to make the lead and could run well at nice odds. CANDY SNATCHER drops in class and is a solid threat.
RACE 2
KITTY KAT KATE drops in for a tag for the first time and has been training well since her last race. She looks best with Cruz back aboard for Wes Ward. ON THE CLOCK showed improvement to win last out and figures to run well again tonight. MORNING WAVES moves up in class after a big win and has to be considered.
RACE 3
PATRIOT SONG has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout and rates a slight edge in here. AGENTMULDER comes off of a game maiden win and is the one to beat. SANTA MONICA BEACH could add value to the gimmicks.
RACE 4
MIA VALENTINA comes off of back-to-back wins going a mile and appears to be in a good spot to extend that streak despite the cutback to 6-1/2 furlongs tonight. LOVE THE POWER moves up in class after a front-running win last out. She is a bit suspect at this distance but will be tough to catch with Lebron back aboard. CHERAY showed some speed before stopping badly last out but drops in class and is a contender.
RACE 5
BEACH HUT comes off of a pair of runner-up efforts and a repeat of either of those races makes him a winner in this bottom claimer. TETRADRACHM is a 10-year-old veteran with nearly $500,000 in career earnings. He comes off of a couple of dull efforts but could wake up in here. BRETT’S BOY is a contender.
MUTATION likes this track and should get a good trip from the outside post under Franklin. He looks best in a solid field of $15,000 claimers. VICTOR JARA was no match for the top pick last out but that was his first race since July and he figures to improve. BREZNO is a definite threat.
RACE 7
RHO CASSIOPEIAE is lightly raced and could post the mild upset in here. RED SPOTS beat the top pick in her last two races and figures to be the one to beat tonight. LIL POM POM stretches out to a mile and has the speed to be a contender.
RACE 8
TRUTH BE TOLLED showed big improvement in his maiden win last out. He faces a tougher field tonight but a repeat of that one would make him a winner with Prentice back aboard for Jeff Greenhill. GUNNY ROO ran poorly last out as the favorite but is capable of better and is the one to beat. MAGICALMEISTER was an impressive winner in his debut and has to be respected.
RACE 9
LUCKY RAMSEY looked good winning last out from just off of the pace and should get a similar trip tonight. He appears to be in a good spot to make it two in a row for Mike Maker with Parker picking up the mount. HUNKA BURNING LOVE was second behind the top pick last out after setting the pace. He figures to make the lead again and looks like the main competition. EDEN RIDGE is a contender.
RACE 10
HANSEN GONE WEST is still winless after 12 starts but seems to have found a good spot to get his maiden win tonight. COPPER MUNN drops a notch in class and is the one to beat. AUSTIN RAY has had only two starts and could improve.