Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020
RACE 1
UNVEILING is riding a three-race win streak for Mike Maker, who keeps him in against bottom claimers again tonight. He can extend his streak with Corrales back aboard. OLD TIMER’S DAY drops back in class and has the speed to be in contention throughout. He is the one to beat. MYSTIC TIGER is a contender.
RACE 2
MY JILLY has just one win in 18 starts but should like the move back to Poly and rates the slight edge in here. GENEVIEVE’S Z VA stopped badly in her last two but drops in for a tag for the first time and figures to be on or near the lead throughout. She could wake up at this level. IMAJIMMYCREED was second in her first race back after a three-month layoff. She should move forward off that one but is a 3-year-old taking on older runners.
RACE 3
VEHEMENT was in the money in all five of his races last year for Bill Mott. He moves to the barn of Tom Drury for his 4-year-old debut and appears to be in a good spot to get his maiden win tonight. SUGOI closed well to finish fifth and galloped out strongly in his debut. He should move forward in this one. COMPANY CLOWN needed his last race and will also improve.
RACE 4
DOWN HOME KITTEN has been off since July but Danny Gargan has excellent numbers with runners off long layoffs. The drop to the bottom is a reason for concern but give him the edge with Jimenez picking up the mount. FAT MAKER has the speed to be on or near the lead and is the one to catch. PINKMAN has only had one race and can be expected to improve.
RACE 5
DANCE THE DAY AWAY has been running against better and figures to get a good trip from just off the early leaders tonight. Give her the edge with Johnny McKee picking up the mount for Daniel Sanner. SOCIAL CIRCLE comes off a couple of solid efforts and her best makes her dangerous. PROMISED FAME is a solid contender in a well matched race.
RACE 6
MONTMARTRE faded after pressing a solid pace going a mile last out and will like the move back to six furlongs tonight. Castillo drops her in for a tag and she looks like a good bet to handle this field with J. D. Ramos aboard. BIG ISLAND is the only runner in here with a win over the Turfway strip and looks like the main competition. UNBRIDLED REBEL would win with anything close to his best but he has been idle for almost two years and figures to need this one.
RACE 7
THOMAS SHELBY has done his best racing over this track and comes off a game runner-up finish in his 4-year-old debut last out. He figures to improve and appears to be in a good spot to pick up the win for Wes Ward and Luan Machado. NEVER EVEN CALLED has been running well recently and was just a nose behind the top pick two starts back. He will be tough to beat. J W RUCKUS is a contender.
RACE 8
MISTER CARSON has the speed to be in contention throughout and looks best in the finale. GUN OF GLORY has only had two races and should improve. MAN HE CAN is a contender.