Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25
BASEBALLNBOURBON drops in for a tag after hooking better in his last two. He should like tonight’s shorter distance and rates the edge at this level with Jack Gilligan aboard. STORMY MISSION has the speed to make the lead. He is a bit suspect at six and one half furlongs but is the one to catch. LABRADOR moves up in class off of the claim and is a contender with Jimenez picking up the mount.
RACE 2
KATE N ABS REWARD drops to the bottom after several decent against much better. She has a solid record over this track and looks like a winner with Lezcano picking up the mount for Tim Locker. WHAT’S IN A NAME was third in her Turfway debut and should move forward off of that one. DEVIL ALERT is a contender and shouldn’t be left out of the gimmicks.
RACE 3
LILY OF THE NILE needed her last race after a long layoff and gets the nod in a weak field with Ouzts back aboard tonight. GONNA FIND HER can win with anything close to her best but she has been off for ten months and takes a big class drop. SCARLETTS FOR REAL ran poorly last out but is capable of better.
RACE 4
PRIMO RIVERA broke his maiden at this level two starts back and just missed last out while moving up in class. He appears to be in a good spot to get the win for Mike Maker. HEAT IT UP RICH was disqualified from a sharp win last out and figures to be the one to beat despite the class hike. RED BLUE AND TRUE comes off of an even effort sprinting and shouldn’t mind tonight’s added distance.
RACE 5
DETERMINED BRAEDON reared at the gate and lost all chance in his first race back after a five month layoff. He actually finished well in that one and figures to move forward tonight. Give him the edge. HE’S A DANDY CANDY drops back down to the bottom and will be tough at this level. LATIN WILD CAT fits with these.
RACE 6
WAR READY was no match for a repeat winner last out but ran well to finish second in that one. He figures to get a good trip from just off of the early leaders and gets the nod in a tough race with Jimenez back aboard. MUTATION just missed last out after setting a fast pace. The class drop is a bit puzzling but a repeat of that last effort would make him hard to beat. MAFIA MUSCLE MAN has won five of his last seven at Hawthorne and if he takes to this track he will be dangerous.
RACE 7
FEAR THE KITTEN drops back to the bottom after an even effort last out. His best would be good enough to win this one with Lezcano picking up the mount tonight. CROOKED COURT is consistent at this level and can’t be left out of the gimmicks. ROYAL WARRANT looked good winning last out.
RACE 8
BOUND FOR NOWHERE is a high priced Keeneland sales grad debuting for Wesley Ward. He has trained well here at Turfway and should be ready to go tonight. THE HANS SUM ONE was well backed in his first start but faded after flashing some early speed. Maker adds blinkers tonight and he can be expected to run much better in this one. THE BIG GAMBLER ran evenly in his debut and can also be expected to improve.
RACE 9
WARRIOR PRINCE was third behind a repeat winner last out and looks best in here with Jimenez picking up the mount for Susan Anderson. SHUTTER SHOCK ran some decent races on the Gulfstream turf and figures to be the one to beat. STRAW DOG posted a recent bullet work and could wake up on the class drop.