Turfway Park Saturday December 22, 2018
Mike McEntire
Twitter: @Gorgonzola44
Mike has been an avid horse handicapper since he discovered the Daily Racing Form in his Econometrics and Forecasting Data class at Erskine College (SC) in 1992. He has worked as a field auditor, employee benefits consultant, martini bar owner, and is currently a business insurance broker in Columbia, SC. Since his 2009 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, Mike has been an avid couch potato and horizontal horse handicapper. He loves Secret Santa, Elf on the Shelf, Open Your Presents Christmas Morning, Not Christmas Eve, and Egg Nog. He hits 3/4s, 4/5s and 5/6s on the regular. His girlfriend is an equine pharmacist and she supports his love of horses and handicapping by driving eight hours to various race tracks and reminding him not to hedge.
Let’s play some Reindeer Games at Turfway Park.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Fade me.
Race One: 6:15 post – Claiming 15000n2L 6F 3YO&Up
5-1-2-3
I really couldn’t find a way to beat the ML favorite #5 Don’t Stop Maria. She is making her second career all-weather start and she totally didn’t hate the first one. She was crunched at the start and had to steady, so I expect much more from her tonight. #1 Go Stellaire has a real shot from the rail and I love the fact that Thornbury is throwing the blinkers back on her. If she runs back to her early 2018 Turfway races, she’s a player. #2 Head First belongs with these and could surprise us with her second career all-weather start. Calderon has put a couple morning works into her since her last, which she lost by a neck, and I think he is throwing some fitness into her.
Race Two: 6:44 post – MC 15000 6 ½ F 2YO
9-1-7-2
#9 Already Gone is entered by trainer Tom Drury. Refer to my notes from last night’s analysis where I told you that he doesn’t ship his horses up from Skylight unless he thinks they are loaded. His horse in the fourth last night, Get Tough, won for fun, and I expect this stablemate to do the same. Martin Hinckson entered a horse last night for Pan Am Racing that finished second at long odds. #1 Einstein’s Baby looks better than last night’s entry, and Devon Johnson is riding this one as his only mount on tonight’s card. This one is live.
Race Three: 7:13 post – MC 5000 5 ½ F 3YO&Up
1-5-2-8
#1 Aces and Eights looks to have drawn a rather easy assignment tonight in this MC 5000 affair. I can’t really use more than a few in this race, and I think that he could air. He was checked and bumped at the start in his last race here on the all-weather, yet still made the lead. If he can get away clean tonight, he may just walk the dog. Don’t get me wrong, I expect #5 Beyond the Nile to duel on the front end with the #1, but I expect Aces and Eights to be better. #2 Mason A.P. will pick up the pieces if the speed duel melts down on the front. #8 Byrdstreetparty shouldn’t be overlooked at a price as his last four works are here at Turfway, respectable, and Cory Orm has decided to ride.
Race Four: 7:42 post – Claiming 15000n2L 1 1/16 Mile 3YO&Up F&M
1-6-3-7
Jason Barkley takes the blinkers off of #1 Fashion Envy to get her more involved tonight, and her 12/15 Turfway work was quite good. Rafael Mojica picks up the mount tonight in a clear upgrade and, as a daughter of Orb, she should like the extra distance. #6 Flawsome finished just ahead of Fashion Envy in their last race, but I expect the tables to be reversed tonight. She fits here and is a must use, I just prefer others. #3 Tweety Show could be the class of the field, but I am very weary of her possible dislike for the Turfway surface. Her 10/01/18 race is far better than any race put up by the others in this field.
Race Five: 8:12 post – MSW 18.5 1 Mile 3YO&Up
3-4-10-5
The ML chalk in the fifth race is definitely the #4 Blue Mesa and #5 Sassy King, but we are going to beat them tonight. #3 Our Alibi is coming in off of a 52 day freshening for Eric Reed, but he has worked him twice here at Turfway where he appears to really relish the footing. He showed some talent in his maiden 8/25/18 debut at the Pea Patch before throwing in a complete clunker underneath the Twin Spires. If Reed gets him back to form, which I think he has, he could just swipe this race. I really don’t know what to think of the #10 High Mounte, but he could be the classiest in the field. Sisterson is giving him Lasix in his American debut. He could be any sort and getting Luan Machado in the irons scares me a bit, but I am going to give him one race before I fully endorse. If we get beat tonight, it is probably the #10 and not the chalk.
Race Six: 8:42 post – Claiming 5000n3L 1 1/16 Mile 3YO&Up
7-8-2-1
In the night’s most evenly matched race you really could take any of these. You know me; I am looking for a price. Carlos Villasana jumps off of #8 Kid Creed for the #7 E Z Man Band. Considering that he is leaving a winner, that’s a power move here at Turfway Park. To make things even more interesting, Rafael Mojica picks up the mount on Kid Creed. In a wide open race why not use both to crush and exacta?
Race Seven: 9:12 post – MSW 18.5K 6 ½ F 2YO
8-5-11-12
Welcome to our nightly version of entropy with yet another MSW for 2YOs. As you know, anything can happen in these races, especially since almost half of the field is making its first start. #5 Roughin the City should get crushed at the windows along with the #11 Zypto. I am going to try to take advantage of this by playing #8 Harlinsdale for Jack Sisterson. He got off slow in his debut and never really showed any interest, but Sisterson addresses that problem tonight by throwing the blinkers on. In addition, he worked him at Keeneland in what looks like a very useful tune-up. John McKee stays aboard in the attempt of tonight’s heist. I like the confidence.
Race Eight: 9:42 post – Claiming 5000n2y 1 Mile 3YO&Up F&M
3-4-1-6
I really wanted to light up the tote board in tonight’s final three races, but I just couldn’t get away from the ML favorites in the closing race. #3 See the Bird and #4 Stina both look to be head and shoulders above the other runners. I much prefer See the Bird over Stina because of her seasoning here at Turfway. I apologize for not being more glamorous. Use the seventh race as your get-out tonight.