Bret Battaglia sets the morning line at Turfway Park in Florence and provides daily picks and comments for the Trib during the live racing meets.
Picks and comments for Friday, Dec. 18
RACE 1
PRONUNCIATION drops back down in class after an even effort in his first start over the track. He should move forward off of that one and looks best in wide-open field. EXAMEN exits the same race as the top pick and figures to improve in his second start back from the layoff. THE DUCK OF REED ran a decent race at this level last time out and is a threat.
RACE 2
THUNDER WIT comes in off a nice second place finish at Churchill. She has the speed to be well placed throughout and could be tough here if she takes to the surface. EL OF A CAT finished just behind the top pick last time out and shows some nice works over the track here at Turfway since that one. LARRY B has been in the money in seven of nine career starts and shouldn’t mind the move to the Polytrack tonight.
RACE 3
EILL’S TERRACE has been off since early October when he showed some good form at a couple of different tracks with two wins and two seconds from four starts. He doesn’t show any works since his last and has never raced over the surface, but a return to form could make him a winner tonight. OWL CREEK was second against a tough field here at Turfway last time out and looks like the one to beat on the move down in class. JACKSONCOUNTYFLASH didn’t show much in either of her two starts over the surface here last winter, but has been in good form recently and is capable of running well here.
RACE 4
BACK AWAY finished a close fifth at this same level last time out in his first attempt over the track after setting the pace in his first start since October. He figures to improve off of that effort tonight and is the choice for the win against a very well-matched field. THESTARVINGARTIST comes in off a game second place finish against similar in his first start over the track. A repeat of that effort would make him the one to beat here. RUNAWAY DAN has been off since June, but shows some nice works leading up to his return and has two wins over the surface here.
RACE 5
DA JERSEY EXPRESS showed some decent for at Belterra this summer and has run well over the track here before. He shows a sharp work leading up to his return, give him a slight edge here. A SINGLE MAN had to need his last after having been off since May and is capable of better. MR RODRIGUEZ has been in the money in three of four starts over the track and could be dangerous if he’s ready.
RACE 6
TRIPLE CREEK was a game second last time out as the favorite in his first start over the track. A repeat of that effort would make him tough to beat against a slightly softer field tonight. TROISADE ran an even race behind the top pick last time out and is a threat. SOTENOUGH TO POP is a first time starter from Gorder’s barn who shows some decent works leading up to his debut.
RACE 7
SWEETSOUTHERNDAME was an impressive winner here at Turfway last time out in her second start back from the layoff. She loves the surface here where she has two wins and a second from four starts and looks to be in a good spot to pick up the win with Jimenez back in the irons. TIZZY BE HOT was over-matched against stakes company in Ohio last time out, but showed some good form before that one. She’s run some strong races here at Turfway in the past and is a definite contender tonight. PARC CELESTE moves back up in class after just missing at Churchill last time out and has two wins over the track.
RACE 8
TOSTON drops back down in class after a dull effort at Churchill last time out. He showed some good form against similar before that one and shows a win in his only start over the track, give him a slight edge here. ALI’S BIRTHDAY moves back up in class after being beaten in the slop at Churchill at odds on in his last start when he was claimed. He’s questionable over the surface, but his best definitely makes him the one to beat here. YARDBIRD MISFITS moves back up in class after finishing second lats time out on the move back to Turfway where he’s done his best racing.
RACE 9
NIFTY FIFTY takes a slight drop in class after an even effort at Churchill last time out and is the choice for the win in a wide-open field. HOTBUTTEREDSOUL moves back down to this bottom level after a disappointing effort at Indiana back in October. He looked very sharp winning at Churchill before that one and will be tough if he handles the surface. FLAUNT drops to this bottom level for the first time and shouldn’t mind the move to the Polytrack.