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 Sunday, Jan. 10
RACE 1
ONCEINMYLIFETIME comes in off an even effort against against similar in his first start since August when he showed some decent form on the grass at Ellis. He figures to improve off of his last and is the choice for the win against a wide-open field. GRAND COULEE has been off since June, but has run well over the Polytrack in the past and looks like a contender. CLASS READY just missed last time out and would be no surprise here.
RACE 2
PHILLIPS BEST DAY drops in class after two solid efforts over the track here at Turfway and is the choice to pick up the maiden win today. ARCHIE BUNKER showed some improvement in his last two starts and looks like a contender. BLUE RANGER moves back around two turns and is a threat.
RACE 3
BUD’S BAYONET ran a game second last time out in his first start over the Polytrack and around two turns. He figures to be on or near the lead again today and rates a slight edge against a well-matched maiden field. HOLD MY PURSE finished just behind the top pick last time out. He shows a sharp work over the track since that one and picks up Jimenez today. BIG JOE CANDY ran fourth in each of his two starts at Churchill and could be dangerous here if he takes to the Polytrack.
RACE 4
UNCLE MITCHO was over-matched against allowance company last time out, but showed some decent form on the grass before that one on the East Coast. He drops in class today and is the choice for the win here. PHILIPPIC ran a close second at this same level last time out and looks like a contender again today. BIG STAGE hasn’t shown much recently, but has done his best racing at Turfway and could be dangerous on the move back to the Polytrack.
RACE 5
WHATTHECATDRUGIN drops in class after a disappointing effort as the favorite last time out, finishing off the board for the first time in ten starts over the surface at Turfway. His eight wins over the track are hard to overlook, give him a slight edge here. TOWN STAR had to need his last start at Churchill after having been off since March. He should like the switch in surfaces today and definitely looks capable of winning here on the drop in class. HERE’S JONNY moves back up in class in his first start since moving to Greenhill’s barn. He’s run well on the turf at multiple levels at multiple tracks and could be dangerous if he’s ready today.
RACE 6
STETSON GAL makes her first start since October when she ran a close third despite breaking poorly in her debut at Belterra. She drops in for a tag for Drury today and looks best in a maiden field where it looks like anyone can win. GALLEY BEACH is one two two Colebrook runners (Color Me Blush) dropping in class out of the same race at Churchill. This one picks up Jimenez and figures to improve in her second start back from the layoff. LILLY POTTER drops in class and should like the move back to sprinting.
RACE 7
BETWEENHEREANDCOOL has looked sharp winning each of his last two starts here at Turfway. He hooks another tough field today, but a repeat of either of his last two efforts should make him a winner here. NOT AN ILLUSION ran a game second against tougher at Churchill in his most recent start. He’s handled the Polytrack in the past and definitely looks capable of running well here with Ouzts picking up the mount. IRUSAN has also won two in a row over the track and could be dangerous today on the move up in class.
RACE 8
THUMP finished a close fifth last time out in her first start over the Polytrack. She didn’t belong in the Golden Rod before that one, but ran well in her debut at Ky. Downs, give her the edge to pick up the maiden win here. MAKE IT MARIA was a close second last time out in her first start over the track and around two turns. She gets McKee back in the irons today and looks like the one to beat here. YEARNING finished just behind the likely favorite last time out and Lopresti’s horses have been running well lately.
RACE 9
LATIN WILD CAT shows two even efforts over the track in his last two starts and gets in light today, give him the edge here. TOP SUITE was fourth last time out coming back from the layoff and figures to move forward off of that one. BIG CHANCE was third at this level two starts back and looks like a contender.