Turfway Park’s Bruce Battaglia provides daily picks and comments for the Trib during the live racing meets.
Race 2 SLAZARRA loves this distance and footing and has the speed to score. MISS TWINKLE TOES does her best running over the synthetic and is ready for a score. MARTHA ROSE comes in off two nice efforts at Churchill.
Race 3 WILD ABOUT IRENE is a fast mare who has met and beat much better many times and is a stand out. AZIPERFORM the second part of the Holt entry comes off back to back blowout wins. ZERO VISABLITY is always dangerous at this level.
Race 4 CAPE CAROLINE has been racing well with much classier. CITY WITHOUT PITY adds blinkers today and a veteran rider who could take her wire to wire. G MIRACLE has been sharp in recent starts.
Race 5 FINNEGAN is a well bred colt who won handily on the Pimlico turf then shipped to England for a Group 2. The same connection out classed a field here opening night. SUCKER PUNCHED has a good chance if the favorite isn’t ready. FOURINTHEMORNING has good speed.
Race 6 THE HOLIDAY INAUGURAL TOUCH AND SMILE is a $250k Ghost Zapper filly who has won all three starts on the Polytrack and will be hard to out run. DEAR ELAINE comes off an easy romp at Keeneland and her dam was a graded winner. NEEDMORE FLATTERY is an Ohio bred who won seventeen times in that state but is best going two turns.
Race 7 CERRO trained by Mike Maker the Kentucky leading trainer who has made his reputation with good claims and making them stake winners. He has three wins from six starts at this distance. DERBY EXPRESS is an Indiana bred who has five wins banking nearly $300K. CREWMAN comes in off three straight seconds.
Race 8 BLAME IT ON TEKELA has beaten much better and should repeat. MAGNA ACCOUNT has the speed to make the lead. GITCHA GOOD has two wins over this track.
Race 9 MANTOVANI ran well in his Keeneland debut last spring. He adds blinkers and drops from straight maiden. BOOMBOSH has shown big improvement lately. CENTER POINTE looks ready for a good run.