Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21
COWBOY CHEYENNE broke poorly last out and made a big middle move before fading in the stretch. He drops in class tonight and figures to run much better in his third career start with Jimenez picking up the mount. TWENTY GAUGE is still winless after eighteen tries but also takes the class drop and will be tough at this level. MICHI BRAH fits with these.
RACE 2
PATTY’S MISCHIEF stretches back out to a mile after a near miss sprinting last out. She figures to make the lead in this one and looks like a good candidate for the wire to wire win. ROHAN drops a notch in class after an even effort against better and figures to be the main competition. SCOOT N MARY rates a chance.
RACE 3
ROCCO SOLID comes off of a pair of near misses and appears to be in a good spot to get his maiden win with Ouzts back aboard. BUCKEYE NATION has the speed to be on or near the lead throughout and is the one to catch. CRESCENT WARRIOR is a shipper from Laurel who has to be considered.
RACE 4
SHUTTER SPEED dropped back to dead last before rallying in the stretch last out to finish fourth. Give him the slight edge tonight. DRAWBRIDGE beat the top pick last out and a repeat of that one makes him dangerous. FLYING KING is a contender and shouldn’t be left out of the gimmicks.
RACE 5
TROPHY GIRL has been off since November and makes her first start since moving to the barn of Mike Maker. Give her the slight edge in a wide open maiden race. SPRING FLING showed big improvement in her second career start for Charlie LoPresti. She figures to move forward off of that one and looks like the one to beat. MISS SHAWHAN ran a couple of solid races on the grass and has been training sharply over the Turfway surface. She is a definite threat.
RACE 6: THE FOREGO STAKES
An overflow filed of fourteen runners were entered in what looks like a very well matched renewal of the Forego. THE GREAT WAR has competed in graded stakes races in seven of his last eight races. He looked good winning at Keeneland and comes off of a good effort in the Fall Highweight at Aqueduct. He has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout and gets the edge for Ward and Garcia. DAC definitely prefers more distance but he loves this track and he did win at seven and one half furlongs on the grass at Indiana Grand. He figures to be flying late. ELUSIVE HOLIDAY moves up in class after an impressive win and could add value to the gimmicks.
RACE 7
PURE LEGACY just missed last out and looks best with Jimenez picking up the mount. I’M EXTRAORDINARY comes off of a game win in her first start back after a three month layoff and is the one to beat. IMAGE OF GRACE is a nine year old veteran who is still running well with Lagunes back aboard tonight.
RACE 8
HINTON didn’t beat much in his debut at Belterra but he overcame a poor start and looked like a runner with some talent. Tom Drury figures to have him ready for this one and he could spring the mild upset with John McKee back aboard. HUNKA BURNING LOVE has run against better. He just missed last out as the favorite and will be hard to beat tonight with Hernandez picking up the mount. NOSHACKLESHERE comes off of an impressive maiden score over this track and is a solid contender in a tough allowance race.
RACE 9
GRANDDAUGHTER drops in class and figures best in this bottom claimer. FAST PAY didn’t show much last out but a better start could make her dangerous at nice odds. EASTERN MISCHIEF is a solid threat.