Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2020
RACE 1
ROCK ON KITTEN drops in class off a solid maiden win and appears to be in a good spot to make it two in a row for Ben Colebrook and Albin Jimenez. PIONEEER DANCER also looked good winning last out despite a bad start. He is the one to beat. PROMONTORY is an invader from Remington who moves to the barn of Wes Ward and has to be respected.
RACE 2
BAY OF FABLES won via disqualification in her first race back after a three-month layoff. She figures to improve off that one and rates the slight edge in this bottom claimer. SEDUCTIVE has been stopping badly but will appreciate the class drop and shorter distance tonight. She figures to be tough at this level. HEADFIRST is a contender.
RACE 3
TUDOX LIFTING OFF ran a decent race in her first try over the Turfway Poly. She gets in light with Ramos and looks best in this one. DON’T HOLD QUEENS exits the same race as the top pick and figures to be running at the end. BONITA SPRINGS has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 4
ICE BLINK debuts for Wes Ward off a steady series of works dating back to November. She figures to be ready and leading rider Albin Jimenez has the mount. LYONAISSE is on the also-eligible list but has been running against much better and is capable of winning if she gets in. MY MAIKO was well beaten as the favorite in her first race over this track but could move forward off that effort.
RACE 5
NOVELLA was very impressive winning a turf race at Churchill back in November. She has been off since a dead-last finish at Fair Grounds but is training very well on the Polytrack training track at Keeneland and anything close to her best would make her a winner tonight. FLASH N’ DANCE showed huge improvement winning last out and figures to be dangerous off that performance. I LIKEM is a solid threat.
RACE 6
GRAMS REVENGE has been idle since November but takes the big class plunge for her return. She hooks a fairly weak field and gets the nod tonight. MOUNTAIN MELODIES beat several of these same horses last out and looks like the main competition. MADAM NOVETZKE and THIRST TRAP are both also-eligibles and if either one gets in they should run well.
RACE 7
ROYAL MESA was in the money in six of his eight races last year and comes off a solid runner-up effort in the Prairie Bayou. He has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout and looks like a solid bet to win this one for Phil Sims with Malcolm Franklin back aboard. THOMAS SHELBY hasn’t lived up to his early expectations but he likes this track and figures to be the main competition for the favorite. J W RUCKUS can’t be left out of the gimmicks.
RACE 8
CABOT TRAIL is a lightly raced 4-year-old from the barn of Steven Lyster. He drops in class for this one and rates the edge with Johnny McKee riding. COMMAND CODE didn’t show much in his last few races but has trained well over this track and could wake up tonight. TRUE TO DIXIE rates a chance.