Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2019
RACE 1
ROCK ON KITTEN has run some decent races against better company. He moves to the barn of Ben Colebrook and drops a notch in class for this one. If he takes to the Poly he should win tonight. ILLIDAN also takes the class drop. He has yet to hit the board in three starts but had a recent bullet work for Ian Wilkes, whose horses usually improve with racing. TALLESTOFTHETALL is in the capable hands of Mike Maker and has to be respected.
RACE 2
I GOT IT just was a close-up second at this level last out and has a solid record over this track. She looks best in this bottom claimer. TAPNFIRE is a 9-year-old veteran who has run well on the Poly at Arlington. She woke up a bit last out and is capable of running well. NO TANKS showed nothing last out but Jimenez picks up the mount.
RACE 3
SUGAR CUBE prefers more distance but figures to be running at the end in a race with plenty of early speed. She could spring the mild upset. RULELIKECLEOPATRA has been off since May but is in the capable hands of Doug Danner and loves this track. DANEIRA threw in a clunker last out but has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 4
SPIROGYRA drops in class for Mike Maker after being claimed last out. He has posted a couple of decent works since that start and looks like a winner at short odds with Martin Garcia aboard. AQUALITYINDIVIDUAL ran evenly in his first race over this track and figures second best. HORSEFEATHERS will like the move back to Poly.
RACE 5
SUNDAY SCARIES closed some ground to finish fourth in a race here two weeks ago. A repeat of that one would be good enough to win this for Steven Lyster with Johnny McKee back aboard. SEVENTY SEVENTYCAT exits the same race as the top pick. He has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout and is the one to beat. ICY STREET should get a good trip from the inside post.
RACE 6
LADY LEAH faded after showing speed against better at Churchill. She will like the move back to Turfway, where she broke her maiden earlier this year, and looks like a winner with Declan Cannon back up for Brian Knippenberg. FLIRTY beat the top pick at Churchill. She ran poorly over this track last out but drops in class and looks dangerous. MAJESTIC BOLD has the speed to make the lead and could be tough if left alone on the front end.
RACE 7
INFINITE is a lightly raced 3-year-old from the barn of Wes Ward. He seems to be improving with every start and he looked sharp winning on the Churchill lawn last out. He rates the slight edge in what looks like very tough allowance race. MOJO MAN is winless in six starts this year but exits some quick races at Churchill and should handle the move to the Poly. He will be hard to beat with Garcia aboard for Jimmy DiVito. STAY HAPPY flew home to win last out at Churchill for Tom Drury. This is a better field but he has to be respected.
RACE 8
SMARTY ARTIE showed nothing in her only start but has been training steadily over this track and hooks a very weak field of maiden claimers. RATHRBLUCKYTHNGOOD ran her best race on the Arlington Poly and rates a chance. TETON THAI has the speed to be dangerous.