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 Thursday, Jan. 21
RACE 1
SEATTLE SASS looked sharp winning here last time out in her first start since September. Any improvement off of that one would make her tough to beat again tonight. WILD ABOUT JACK drops to this bottom level for the first time and looks like the one to beat. WILD CARD HIT comes in off a nice win at Tampa and has to be considered.
RACE 2
TC’S LUV drops in class after being second best as the favorite last time out and looks like he’s in a good spot to pick up the win here. X CON finished behind the top pick last time out and is a contender. BOLD VISIONARY comes in off a nice maiden win here at Turfway.
RACE 3
DREAM BROTHER was second best at this same level last time out and is the choice for the win here with Jimenez picking up the mount for Maker. NOTMUCHTOLOOKAT takes a big drop in class in his first start since September and could be dangerous if he’s ready. CROOKED COURT drops in class and is a threat.
RACE 4
AZIFORCAST has been second in each of her last three starts, but hooks a slightly softer field tonight and should be able to pick up the win here. CHA CHING JACKPOT has run well in her last two starts and looks like a contender again tonight. HOT FRENCH FRIES didn’t show much last time out, but is capable of better.
RACE 5
LIVIN’ A PRAYER ran a nice third at long odds in her debut at this same level. She gets lasix for the first time tonight, give her a slight edge here. BLONDE IN THE CITY finished just ahead of the top pick last time out and looks like the one to beat here. HURRICANE JANE drops in class and figures to improve in her second career start.
RACE 6
CASH DANCE won on the drop in class last time out looks best again tonight. I’M EXTRAORDINARY was well beaten at odds on last time out on the move up in class, but looked good winning here before that one. She’s questionable at this distance, but still looks capable of running well here. LEGEND OF TUTU should like the move back to sprinting.
RACE 7
SCORE BABE just missed in her debut back on new year’s day here at Turfway. A repeat of that effort would make her tough again tonight against a solid maiden field. PATTY’S MISCHIEF shows two even efforts in two starts for Maker and picks up Jimenez tonight. PISTOL PATTI moves back around one turn and looks capable of running well here.
RACE 8
SMOKING ROMANCE faded to fifth after setting a quick pace last time out in his first start since early November. He figures to move forward off of that one and has won over the track before, give him the edge against a well-matched field. MAC THE MAN didn’t fire last time out, but might have needed that one after having been off since September. He’s run some big races over the track here in the past and would be no surprise here. CAT’S IN THE MOOD has two wins and second from three starts over the track and could be dangerous on the move back up in class.
RACE 9
JARBOE was second best behind an impressive winner last time out. He’s lightly raced and seems to like the Polytrack, give him the edge here. LATIN WILD CAT was second as the favorite at this same level last time out and gets in light again tonight with Wright. CORINTHIANO is inconsistent, but capable of running well here.