Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020
RACE 1
CHAPEL BARN showed improvement in his second career start and appears to be in a good spot to get his maiden win. SOFIA’S SLUGGER finished right behind the top pick last out. He has the speed to be on or near the lead and is the one to catch. THE LAST COOL CAT drops in class and gets blinkers.
RACE 2
BUSTER BROWN BOY has won three races over the Turfway strip and comes off a couple of decent efforts at this level. He is capable of winning this one with Ramos picking up the mount. RIVER EVANGELIST figures to be a solid favorite. Anything close to his best makes him a winner but the big drop is a reason for concern. MCHENRY will be running at the end and has to be respected.
RACE 3
MONEY FOR MISCHIEF lost his best chance when he broke slowly last out against a slightly tougher field. Give him the edge with Albin Jimenez picking up the mount for Dale Romans. BRITANNIA KITTEN makes his U.S. debut for Mike Maker. He has been training steadily and looks like the one to beat. BEE BRIDGE drops a notch in class and also gets blinkers for the first time.
RACE 4
DON’T STOP MARIA comes off a couple of dull efforts but Doug Danner drops her back in for a tag tonight. Give her the slight edge in what looks like a very well matched claiming test. SWEET BRYNLIE has been off for three months but the Woodbine shipper finished in the money in her last nine races and comes off back-to-back wins. SACRED STORM has the speed to be dangerous.
RACE 5
COMPLETE showed big improvement in her second start back after a long layoff. She figures to move forward again this evening and gets the nod with Garcia back aboard for Byron Hughes. EDEN is a 3-year-old taking on older runners but is by champion Curlin out of a multiple stakes-winning mare. She should love the added distance and has to be respected. ATHARY figures to make the lead from the inside post and could be tough to catch.
RACE 6
PIONEER DANCER won back to back races at this level before an even effort against better last out. He will be rallying from just off the pace and appears to be in a good spot to pick up another win. BIG IRON is a bit suspect at this distance but figures to be on or near the lead and looks like the one to catch. PURR CAT is a definite contender in another well matched race.
RACE 7
SURREPTITIOUS comes off a pair of runner-up efforts and has the speed to be on or near the lead. She looks like a good bet to get the win with Julie Burke back aboard for Jim Corrigan. JUST A LOOK will like the cutback in distance and should run well for Ben Colebrook with Jimenez picking up the mount. SWAY TO GO is training sharply for her debut.
RACE 8
SALTY RIM stopped badly in his first race back after a long layoff but posted a solid recent work and hooks a fairly weak field tonight. CONFECTION FORTUNE has been running well and has to be respected. HENNY HEFNER woke up last out.