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 Saturday, Jan. 23
RACE 1
PUPPY ON A STRING was second best at this same level two starts back and is the choice for the win here on the move back down in class. BETTER BY FAR might have needed her last after having been off since September. She has two wins over the track and looks capable of running well tonight. CORINA CHARM comes in off a win over the track and is a contender.
RACE 2
FEAR THE KITTEN comes in off a nice third place finish against tougher in his first start since September and looks like he’s in a good spot to pick up the win on the drop in class. SILENT SECRET was third at this same level last time out and is a threat. TOWER EAST has a win over the track and shouldn’t mind the move back around two turns.
RACE 3
TAX DEDUCTION takes a big drop in class in his first start since moving to Maker’s barn. He’s run some solid races against much tougher and will be tough to beat here. CRITICAL SUMMER showed a great deal of improvement last time out. A repeat of that effort could make him dangerous tonight. PHILLIPS BEST DAY has been second in two of his last three starts here at Turfway.
RACE 4
CALHOUN comes in off a nice maiden win and has run well in each of his two starts over the track. Give him a slight edge here. NOLANS DREAM makes his first start since being claimed at Churchill back in September when he fourth at a short price. He’s shown some good form against tougher and could be tough to beat here if he takes to the Polytrack. OCEAN FRONT ran a nice second off a long layoff and would be no surprise here.
RACE 5
YARDBIRD MISFITS was fourth as the favorite last time out on the drop in class, but ran well in his two previous starts over the track. He hooks a slightly softer field tonight and should be able to pick up the win here. PAINTED VALLEY shows two solid efforts at this same level in his last two starts and definitely looks capable of running well again tonight. RELENTLESS SPIRIT finished ahead of the top pick last time out and could win here if he draws in off the AE list.
RACE 6
WILLIN’ GRACE showed improvement last time out in her second career start and rates a slight edge here on the drop in class. NASDROVIA didn’t fire as the favorite here back in early December. She shortens back up tonight and Ward figures to have her ready for her return. SEMILLON ran a nice second at this level last time out and is a threat.
RACE 7
TIMELY PURSUIT moves up in class after winning his second in a row over the surface here at Turfway. He has the tactical speed to be in a good position throughout and could spring a mild upset here. TACOMA PARK was second in a key race last time out and looks like the one to beat on the drop back down in class. LI’L J drops in class and looks like a nice fit at this level.
RACE 8
LUNA ARGENTA just missed last time out against similar in her first start over the track. Any improvement off of that effort could make her a winner here against a wide-open field. FORENSIC was over-matched in the Wintergreen last time out, but ran a nice third against a tough field before that one and would be no surprise here. SPLIT IT finished just behind the top pick last time out and shows a nice work over the track for Maker since that one.
RACE 9
J. PA shows two solid efforts against similar in his last two starts and looks best here with Ouzts back in the irons. SHUT UP CHRIS hasn’t run poorly in either of his two starts since coming back from a long layoff and looks like a contender. STIG’S DEPUTY would be my top choice as the probable favorite if he drew in off the also eligible list.