Turfway Park in Florence provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3
BIG COULEE ran poorly last out but was claimed from that one and posted a recent bullet work. Look for a much better performance tonight with Rodney Prescott picking up the mount. SACRED PROMISE debuts for Kellyn Gorder off of solid works at Keeneland and looks dangerous. AGGRO CRAG ran well last out and is a definite contender.
RACE 2
ARCHIBOLDO will be running at the end in a race that figures to have a fast pace. Give him the slight edge in a very well matched field. READY BY YOU drops in for a tag after running well at Hawthorne. He moves back to the barn of John Hancock who should have him ready to run tonight with Jack Gilligan aboard. MYSTIC TIGER just missed last out and a repeat of that one makes him a definite threat.
RACE 3
GTMEOUTAHERESEAMUS just missed last out against better. He drops back in against bottom claimers for this one and he appears to be in a good spot to pick up the win. OWL CREEK looked good winning last out for the hot barn of Kim Hammond. He is definitely the one to beat tonight. BLUEMYMIND looks like a contender.
RACE 4
TIZ SARDONIC JOE has been very sharp since being claimed by Kim Hammond back in September. He is riding a two win streak and can make it three in a row with Gilligan back aboard tonight. SERGIOS PRIDE was no match for the top pick last out but was clearly second best and is the one to beat. TIZMATIZED woke up last out and has a chance.
RACE 5
OROPA has reeled off two straight impressive scores since moving to the Poly. She faces a bit tougher competition this evening but is definitely capable of extending her streak with John McKee back aboard for Cindy Huber. GALE’s LOVE drops in for a tag for the first time and figures to be tough to beat with anything close to her best performance. HANG ON ANNIE fits with these.
RACE 6
PERFECT PASSION has been a beaten favorite in her last two but has run well in both of those races and gets the nod for Mike Maker with Jack Gilligan picking up the mount. LA FEMME PETITE faded after setting the pace last out in her second career start and should like tonight’s shorter distance. GYPSY TRICK is a contender.
RACE 7
BAR TRCIK comes off of a pair of runner up efforts at this level and rates the edge in what looks like a well matched maiden claimer. THE LAST PROPHET lost his best chance when checked sharply last out and a better trip from the outside pose makes him dangerous tonight. MASONIO didn’t show much last out but has posted a couple of good works since that start with Lezcano in the saddle tonight.
RACE 8
PROUD MISSION was hammered at the windows in her debut at Lone Star back in May and was a game winner in that one. She has been working well for her comeback for new trainer Kellyn Gorder who does well with runners off the layoff. Give her the edge. DIVINE HUMOR looks like the one to beat. NOPENNIESFORME looked very good in her maiden score and faded after pressing the pace against better last out. She is a definite threat.
RACE 9
CARMELO was no match for a runaway winner in his debut but figures to move forward off of that effort and looks best for Doug Cowans with Prescott back aboard. BIG RALPH closed well to finish fourth in his first race here at Turfway and may not have cared for the track at Laurel. Look for a better effort tonight. WHISKEY MOON ran for a tag last out but still looks like he fits in here with Perry Ouzts picking up the mount tonight.