Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 (Preview)
Race 1
DON’T STOP MARIA was overmatched in an allowance race last out but is back in for a tag tonight. She ran well at Keeneland and Churchill and her best would make her a winner with McKee picking up the mount for Doug Danner. BURKE’S GARDEN flashed some speed before stopping in her first race back after an eight-month layoff. She also takes the class drops and can be expected to run better. GO STELLAIRE has had only one race since April but is training well and is a contender.
Race 2
ALREADY GONE comes off a long layoff but Tom Drury is very good with his returning runners. This one gets Lasix for the first time and gets the nod in a fairly weak maiden claimer. EINSTEIN’S BABE has been in the money in three of her seven starts and figures to be the main competition. CARINA has been training well and fits in here.
Race 3
ACES AND EIGHTS is a lightly raced three year old who woke up last out. He should be on or near the lead from the inside post and rates the edge in here. BEYOND THE NILE has been off since May but has been training steadily and drops to the bottom for his return. PRAY FOR KITTEN rates a chance.
Race 4
B DEB’S FORTUNE was beaten by a couple of these same runners last out but has the speed to make the lead and is capable of the wire-to-wire score tonight. TWEETY SHOW is the definite class in here and she will be running at the end. Anything close to her best will make her tough to beat. HEAD DRESS moves up in class after a win and rates a shot.
Race 5
SASSY KING comes off a runner-up effort last out and will be running at the end in a race with plenty of early speed. He appears to be in a good spot to get his maiden win for Phil Sims with Prescott back aboard. HIGH MOUNTE was second in a couple of races in Ireland and has trained well for his U.S. debut for Jack Sisterson. He figures to be ready for a solid effort. BLUE MESA finished a nose behind the top pick last out and has to be respected.
Race 6
UNSPOILED MOMENTS lost all chance when he dwelt at the start last out. He ran very well to finish fifth and a better break may be all he needs to win this one for Paul Garcia with Machado picking up the mount. IAN SMITH drops in class and is a solid threat at this level.
Race 7
ROUGHIN THE CITY comes off a fourth-place finish against a much tougher field last out at Churchill. A repeat of that one makes him a winner for Joe Deegan with Julie Burke aboard. ZYPTO was well beaten in his debut but should move forward in his second start for Mike Maker. He is definitely the one to beat. HARLINSDALE also figures to improve in his second career start.
Race 8
SEE THE BIRD has a solid record over this track and drops back to the bottom for Jason Barkley, who is having an excellent meet with a small number of runners. He looks like a winner in this spot. STINA has been a beaten favorite in his last two but figures to be the main competition. MUNCHIES will be tough if he handles the move to the Poly.