Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
Battaglia Selections for Friday, March 2
RACE 1
WINTER SPRINGS drops back to the bottom after a good effort aginst much better last out. He looks like a solid bet to win the opener for Aaron West with Parker aboard. PRIMO RIVERA was a beaten favorite last out but has a good record over this track and looks like the one to beat. OGEE’S EKATI ran well last out and is a contender.
RACE 2
SISTER JIB is undefeated in three starts over this track. She moves up a notch in class but the way she won last out suggests she can handle the class hike. SHAKAKAN had a rough trip in her Turfway debut and has the speed to be dangerous tonight. DAYIN DEAUVILLE will be running at the end.
RACE 3
ALSINAAFY has been hooking much better on the Gulfstream turf. He has never run on Poly but if he handles the surface he should be able to beat this bunch. KITTEN FOR GRANNY figures to be the main competition. JUST ANOTHER JOHN fits with these.
RACE 4
QUE HANSEN will be running at the end in a race that figures to have an honest pace. She gets the nod in a well matched bottom claimer. MISS CATWOOD comes off of a solid win and figures to run well again tonight. OUR ADIEAU fits in here.
KITTEN’S SOLUTION has been off since April but drops in class for Wesley Ward. He appears to be in a good spot to pick up his maiden with Deshawn Parker aboard. KINGDOM’S GATE just missed last out in his first race back after a short layoff. He is definitely the one to beat with Franklin picking up the mount for Mike Maker. SEVENHEARTSWARRIOR is a definite contender.
RACE 6
MORNING WAVES was an impressive maiden winner two starts back at today’s distance of one mile. She closed ground sprinting last out and rates the edge in this one. NORWEGIAN LADY didn’t beat much last out but did it impressively and a repeat of that one makes her dangerous. SUMMERTIME GAL fits at this level.
RACE 7
SCAT LADY rates a slight edge in what looks like a well matched claiming race. SPEARETTE exits a couple of dull efforts but is capable of waking up tonight. NATIVE INDY is a definite contender.
RACE 8
BENEFACTOR has been hooking much better on the grass at Gulfstream. He has never raced on Poly but should handle the move and anything close to his best makes him a winner for Maker and Franklin. CATINATI is good right now and figures to be the one to beat. LO’S JOURNEY rates a chance.
RACE 9
BURCIAGA has run well in all three of his races and Larry Holt adds Lasix tonight. He looks best of the ones who have started. IRONWOOD was a $950,000 purchase as a two-year-old and has been training well in Florida for Troy Green. He is on the also-eligible list but would be tough to beat if he gets in. HORSE SENSE is a first-timer by Street Sense who has posted some bullet works at the training center. He is a definite threat.