Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Race 1
CONNIE ANN has the speed to be on or near the lead and looks like a winner on the class drop. MILLVILLE gets blinkers for the first time and is a contender with Ouzts back aboard. LADY CREED rates a chance.
Race 2
FROST OR FRIPPERY has five career wins from 37 starts but is 3-for-7 over the Turfway Poly. He should get a good trip from the inside and rates the slight edge with McKee up. MALIBU TIDE has won four races this year running on the bottom at Mountaineer and figures to be the one to beat. PERFECT EXECUTION ran poorly last out in the mud but is capable of better.
Race 3
CALM PACIFIC has been dull recently but drops to a career low claiming level and likes this track. A return to his best would make him a winner against this group. CAIRN moves up in class after being claimed by Kim Hammond. He will be tough despite the class hike. UNION BOWMAN is an 11-year-old veteran who is still competitive in his 93rd career start.
Race 4
TO MUCH CHITCHAT stopped badly in her last two but cuts back to five furlongs and drops in class. She is capable of winning at this level. ON THE CONTRARY has been sporadically raced and comes off another three-month layoff. She did post a recent bullet work for Wes Ward, who always has to be respected. MYNAMEISMONEY is a definite contender.
Race 5
SPANISH JUSTICE gets the nod in a fairly weak bottom claimer. FEET’S AFIRE has been dull recently but has won four races over the Turfway Poly and has to be considered. SHARM rates a chance.
Race 6
PICANTE CALIENTE lost all chance when she broke poorly last out. She had been in the money in her seven previous races and rates the edge for Kim Hammond with Rodney Prescott aboard. COURTMEWITHCARATS didn’t break sharply at Churchill and was never in contention. She has good early speed and if she makes an easy lead she will be tough to catch. MRS HOWELL is a lightly raced 3-year-old who comes off a solid maiden win at Keenelend.
Race 7
THOMAS SHELBY was a $525,000 purchase as a 2-year-old in training back in March. He exits an extremely tough maiden race at Keeneland where the runner-up came back to win an allowance race at Churchill next out. Wes Ward will have this one ready to fire tonight. BYE THE BYE is a well bred Calumet homebred by Preakness winner Oxbow. He has had a couple of bullet works at Keeneland and could be tough at first asking. RELEASETHETHUNDER comes off an even effort at Churchill and is a contender.
Race 8
CRUZ DIEZ is just 1-for-24 but drops to the bottom and figures to handle this bunch if he takes to the Poly. SLOWHAND has been off since March but is another Ward runner who has been training steadily for his return. MR. COMPASS fits with these.