Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 (Preview)
Race 1
JOHN PAUL JONES ran evenly at Churchill last out and drops a notch in class for this one. He rates the slight edge with Prescott picking up the mount for Mike Maker. ETERNAL POWER showed speed in his debut and Wes Ward takes the blinkers off for his return. He should improve and is the one to beat. STRIDER is a solid contender.
Race 2
ONLY PRAISE ME will appreciate the move back to Poly and has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout. She could be tough to catch tonight. READY TO GO drops to the bottom and figures to be the one to beat at this level. SHE’S GOT FRIENDS will be running at the end and rates a chance.
Race 3
KNIGHT ERRANT drops in against bottom claimers for one of the all-time greats, Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito. He has run against better on the grass and if he takes to the Poly he can win this one. KITS GOLD comes off two solid races at Presque Isle and figures to be the main competition. MIGUEL broke his maiden on this track back in February and has to be considered.
Race 4
PUPPY ON A STRING likes this track and should get a good trip from the inside post. She gets the nod in this one. MILEVA is another shipper from Presque Isle who has been very consistent over the Tapeta surface. She should handle the Turfway Poly and will be tough to beat. MAGNETIC SPOT fits with these.
Race 5
MATH MAJOR comes off a solid runner-up effort at Churchill. He moves up in class after being claimed by Jamie Grubbs and looks like a good bet to win this one with Azael DeLeon aboard. G NINETEEN dropped in for a tag for the first time last out and ran well to finish third. A similar performance would make him hard to beat. ST. RONANS has the speed to be a factor.
Race 6
SERVE has won twice and been in the money in five of his six races this year. He looks best with the ageless Perry Ouzts picking up the mount for Aaron West. DANCE STRIKE takes a big class drop after two dull efforts. The drop isn’t a good sign but anything close to his best would make him tough in this spot. NOT EZ BEINGGREEN is a contender.
Race 7
BEE BALM is a Calumet homebred by turf champ English Channel. She faded after showing some early speed at Keeneland but should be ready for a better effort in her third start back after a nine-month layoff. HONORED PROMISE had to need her last race after a five-month vacation. She has the speed to be in contention throughout and is the one to beat for Dale Romans with Luan Machado, a recent arrival from Brazil, picking up the mount. TRUE COLORS stopped badly in her only race but posted a recent bullet workout and Wes Ward always has to be respected.
Race 8
YOU FLATTER ME has the speed to be on or near the lead and looks best with Malcolm Franklin riding for Pat Huffman. EMMY SHIMMY drops to the bottom and is the one to beat. THIRSTER broke her maiden here in March.