Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Race 1
TIZ BEAUTY has been in the money in 11 of her 13 races this year. She comes off a game score at Mountaineer and looks like a winner with Malcolm Franklin picking up the mount for Marshall Godsey. LUSTY GIT YER GUN faded after setting the pace at Churchill and is in easier tonight. PROM THEME has been running poorly but likes this track and could wake up.
Race 2
HEAD DRESS has been second in both of her races and appears to be in a good spot to pick up her maiden win in this one. TRUE SIMPLICITY has been off since June but Kim Hammond usually has her runners ready for the Turfway meet. FUN SUCKER is a contender.
Race 3
Wes Ward saddles ONE FLEW SOUTH and BORN GREAT, who run uncoupled in the betting. BORN GREAT has the better works but Ward’s “go-to” jock Julio Garcia rides ONE FLEW SOUTH. Give the slight edge to ONE FLEW SOUTH. ZYPTO is training well for Mike Maker and will be tough with Prescott getting the mount.
Race 4
DESERT THIEF moves up in class after being claimed from a winning race at Indiana Grand. She should get a good trip from the outside post and rates the edge Luan Machado aboard. ATLANTIC SLEW is a consistent runner on the dirt. She makes her Polytrack debut tonight and if she handles the surface she will be hard to beat. TRULY VAL likes this track.
Race 5
LUCY’S TOWN didn’t break well in her first race back after a six-month layoff but ran a decent race to finish fourth. She figures to move forward and can win this one with a better start. FAIRLY HONEST has been off since May but drops in for a tag for the first time and is the one to beat. MISS FAHRENHEIT beat the top pick last out and has to be considered.
Race 6: The Holiday Inaugural Stakes
IN THE MOOD won the Cincinnati Trophy and was second in the G3 Bourbonette here in March. She comes off an impressive front-running score at Churchill but is capable of coming off the pace as she cuts back to six furlongs. Johnny McKee is back aboard for Steven Sandy and she looks best in a well matched renewal of the Holiday Inaugural. GLAMANATION is trained by Steve Asmussen, who finished in a tie with Dallas Stewart for leading training honors at Churchill. This one has been running well at Woodbine and figures to be the main competition. MISS GOSSIP comes off two dismal races but posted a recent bullet work at the Training Center and could wake up.
Race 7
GIANT HONOR has been running against much better since breaking his maiden by 12 lengths in a race here in February. Look for him to regain his winning ways for Pat Huffman with Malcolm Franklin aboard. IT IS DEJAVU figures second best. MAJESTIC VALLEY has had only two races and had a nice work here Nov. 17.
Race 8
JUST BE FRANK ran poorly last out but will like the move back to the Poly and can run well in his third start back after a layoff. RED KITE is a lightly raced 4-year-old who fits with these. GUNNY ROO has been off since February but has to be respected.