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, April 3
RACE 1
ZAMBIAN drops in for a tag for the first time after a few even efforts against allowance company and is the choice for the win here. MARVELOUS SKY is also dropping in class and looks like the main competition. SUCKER PUNCHED comes in off a nice maiden win and is a contender.
RACE 2
MARCO’S FLING showed improvement last time out when he just missed at this same level. A repeat of that effort should make him a winner against a wide-open field. COVER BOY is inconsistent, but capable of winning here if at his best. CHARLIE ST GOLD has been third in two of his last three starts and is a threat.
RACE 3
MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER shows a win and a third in his two starts over the track and looks best against a soft field today. FRACULA hasn’t shown much on the east coast recently, but he makes his first start since moving to Gorder’s barn and picks up Jimenez. DREAM BROTHER didn’t fire last time out, but is capable of better.
RACE 4
SUMMER VISION ran a game second last time out in her first start since June. Any improvement off of that effort would make her tough to handle today. TIZ JOSSELYN has been idle since August when she didn’t fire at Del Mar. She ran some decent races at Santa Anita before that one and could be tough here if she’s ready. KISSIN LUCKY LIPS has been off for nearly two years and might need a race today.
RACE 5
JUSTFOLLOWMYLEAD didn’t fire as the favorite last time out, but is capable of better, give him a slight edge here. ARVAK has been second in two of his last three starts and looks like the one to beat. CITIZEN JOHN is inconsistent, but capable of running well here.
RACE 6
ELUSIVE HOLIDAY makes her first start since November when she was second on the dirt at Churchill. She ran two strong races on the grass before that one as well and will be tough to beat today. RULELIKECLEOPATRA was third against a solid field in her last start and looks like a contender again today. WAR ALERT figures to improve in her second start back from the layoff and shouldn’t mind the move to the Polytrack.
RACE 7
CLOVELLY has been in very good form recently with two wins and two seconds from his last four starts. He has the speed to be in a good spot throughout, give him a slight edge against a very well-matched field. HIDDEN BROOK drops in class and looks like the one to beat. CAUSE I’M ALEX hasn’t been worse than second in five starts over the track and would be no surprise here.