Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 (Preview)
Race 1
EN HANSE had a solid three-year-old campaign, winning the WEBN and placing in several other stakes races. He has been dull in his three races this year but drops drastically in class and has been training very well for Mike Maker. PROVEN WARRIOR also takes the class drop for Kim Hammond and will be tough at this level. BUD’S BAYONET is a contender.
Race 2
PERFECT COMIC has just three wins in 24 starts but is two-for-three at Turfway. He comes off an impressive romp and looks like a good bet to make it two in a row tonight. WARLEGGAN was favored over the top pick last out but broke poorly and lost his rider in a spill. A better start will make him dangerous. ARCH YOU READY comes off back-to-back wins over this track and will be running at the end.
Race 3
SERIOUS I CANDY has been a beaten favorite in her last two but makes her third start back after a layoff and cuts back to five furlongs. She looks like a solid bet to win this one in front-running fashion. NEED THE WALL comes off a game win and is the one to beat. PARKING TICKET has been dull but drops in class and could wake up tonight.
Race 4
RED KITE just missed last out after setting a fast pace and a similar effort would be good enough to win this one with Prentice back aboard for Michael Ewing. GET TOUGH has been off since September but Tom Drury has good numbers with his returning runners and this one broke his maiden here in March. ESCALERA comes off a couple of good efforts and is a definite threat.
Race 5
EL AHIJADO has been running well on the turf at Keeneland and Churchill. He gets blinkers for the first time and should be on or near the lead throughout. Give him the edge with Rafael Mojica aboard for Sal Guerrero. LINK TO DESTINY and ARTEMUS BRIDGE form a tough entry for the Ramseys. Both are first timers from the top barns of Wes Ward and Mike Maker and can be expected to run well on debut. UNITY is a solid threat in a good maiden race.
Race 6
FUN SUCKER comes off a couple of runner-up efforts at this level and should be on or near the lead from the inside post. She appears to be in a good spot to pick up the maiden win. AMERIBELLE is lightly raced and drops in class. She is eligible to improve and is the one to beat. ABBY BRILLIANT definitely fits with these.
Race 7
HUNTIN BUDDY moves up in class after beating a softer field last out but figures to be running at the end in a race loaded with early speed. He can make it two in a row with Cory Orm back aboard for Michael Estes. NORMANDY CROSSING is back at his favorite track. He figures to have company on the front end but he has won from just off the pace before and he is the one to catch. TREASURY BILL doesn’t like to win but will also be running late and can’t be left out of the gimmicks.
Race 8
PUT SARAH ON was third against a better field last out and gets the nod in here. LAKE SNOW didn’t fire last out but is capable of better and looks dangerous in this spot. OLD CENTRE rates a chance.