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, March 20
RACE 1
PROM THEME has been beaten as the favorite in each of her last two starts. She didn’t run poorly in either of those, give her a slight edge against a wide-open field. TRUE STARLET hasn’t shown much in either of her two starts since coming back from the layoff, but she is capable of better. GALLOPING DOMINO has won two of her last three in Ohio and owns a win over the track.
RACE 2
HOLY FRAZIER was second best at this same level on the drop in class in his last start. He figures to e running at the end again today and looks best here. ARMY RANGER was a winner last time out and looks like the one to beat with Jimenz back in the irons. GITCHA GOOD didn’t fire last time out, but won two in a row here at Turfway earlier this winter. He moves back down in class and could be dangerous today.
RACE 3
PUPPY ON A STRING ran third at this same level last time out despite having some trouble at the start. A cleaner trip could make her a winner against a well-matched field. SWEETS N TREATS has been second best in each of her last four starts and looks like the one to beat again today. SEATTLE SASS just missed last time out and would be no surprise here.
RACE 4
HOPE IS JUST AHEAD was second best as the favorite in her last start, but hooks a softer field today and should be able to pick up the win here. HURRICANE SOPHIA shows two third place finishes against similar in her last two starts and is a contender. STORMING CECILIA could be dangerous if she takes to the Polytrack.
RACE 5
GLORY RANGE takes a big drop in class after an even effort in her last start and is the choice to pick up the maiden win here. ADOPT A KITTEN moves back down in class after being beaten as the favorite in four straight. TAINTED PAINT ran a decent race at first asking and should move forward off of that one.
RACE 6
WILD CARD HIT didn’t show much on the dirt at Mahoning last time out, but looked sharp winning at this same level here at Turfway before that one. A repeat of that effort would make her tough to handle again today. KERI THIS DAY LORI takes a slight drop in class after a few decent efforts at Sam Houston and has won over the track before. WILL GRACIE SHINE has been in the money in six of her last seven starts over the track and is definitely capable of winning here.
RACE 7
BIG BLUE SPIRIT shortens back up after a nice second place finish behind an impressive winner in his last start. He won against similar around one turn over the track back in December and rates a slight edge today against a very well-matched field. CAT’S IN THE MOOD shows three second place finishes in his last starts and has never been worse than second in five starts here at Turfway. FAVORITE COACH moves up in class after winning two in a row and has to be considered.