Race 1: MC 15000, One mile on the Polytrack, For Maidens, Four Years Old and Upward. (Post Time: 6:15 PM EST)
Selections: 4-7-1
(4) Crescent Warrior: This five year old son of Majestic Warrior has finished second in his last two starts at this class level when routing last seen routing at Turfway and seems well slotted tonight such that he might be able to finally break his maiden. Has displayed excellent closing speed figures over the Polytrack and it’s always encouraging to see McKee (20% win rate thus far at Turfway meet and 21% win rate when routing) remain onboard for trainer Troy Newton.
(7) My Kinda Kid: Flashed some very good early speed in Turfway debut at this distance two weeks ago and if he can show that form again tonight will certainly be dangerous in a race that appears to be short on early speed. Son of Gemologist does step up in class tonight but will be receiving a major upgrade in the jockey department to Franklin (19% win rate thus far at Turfway meet).
(1) Private Galaxy: Son of Greeley’s Galaxy finished third against similar foes in most recent start here at Turfway at this distance last month. This gelding does have decent closing speed and could be running late especially with Orm remaining onboard. Thus far 4 of 6 runners for trainer Anthony Scott have finished in the money here at Turfway.
Race 2: Clm 5000n2y, Six furlongs on the Polytrack, For Four Year Olds and Upward. (Post Time: 6:44 PM EST).
Selections: 3-5-2
(3) Twenty Gauge: This son of Fusaichi Pegasus absolutely relishes racing at Turfway as he has yet to finish out of the money in seven lifetime starts over the Polytrack, including three wins. Since coming over to Turfway in December, he has been competitive in every one of his starts including a quality effort in his most recent start at this distance back on January 19th. There appears to be a decent amount of early speed entered into this field, so the race should set up well for a pace stalking effort by Twenty Gauge. Prentice remains onboard tonight and Scott has done remarkably well with horses that are repeatedly entered for tags (33% win rate and $4.00 R.O.I.) as well as with runners that won their last race (25% win rate).
(5) Beach Hut: Son of First Defence put together an impressive last out performance despite being bothered at the start such that race notes have him listed as “tons the best” for his three quarter length victory back in December over six furlongs. Primarily running as a pace stalker, he should get a good pace to run after in this race so look for him to be making a move as the field turns into the straight. Machado (17% win rate in sprint races this year) remains aboard tonight.
(2) Sharm: Even though the pedigree for this son of Majestic Warrior suggests he should excel at routing, he seems to be at his best when sprinting six to seven furlongs. Blessed with good speed throughout all stages of a race, this one will likely try and close late against these rivals tonight. A repeat effort of the 78 Bris Speed Rating (BSR) that he earned against similar last time out should be good enough for an on the board finish. McKee hops onboard tonight which is always good to see.
Race 3: Clm 5000n2L, One mile on the Polytrack, For Four Year Olds and Upward. (Post Time: 7:13 PM EST).
Selections: 5-6-3
(5) Slowhand: The Ward trainee should appreciate the drop in class tonight as he was a tad outmatched when competing against $7.5K Claimers in his most recent effort. There is a decent amount of speed entered into this field and if Machado can have his mount a bit more forwardly placed then he certainly is worth a look at tonight. Over the past three years Ward has done extremely well with runners racing over all weather surfaces (32% win rate) as well as those entered for a tag (26% win rate).
(6) Grammy’s Legacy: Son of Get Stormy has hit the board in three of his four lifetime starts here and finished in the money on both occasions when contesting a mile. Despite being bumped at the start, in his most recent effort against this class level, Grammy’s Legacy flashed good early speed but did have to settle for second after fading late down the stretch. Blinkers go on tonight for trainer Waltz and it is good to see that he keeps Franklin in the saddle as the jockey has been riding very well at Turfway so far (19% win rate).
(3) Daringly Bold: Not entirely sure that this race is going to set up well for a closer but this son of Bodemeister should certainly appreciate the drop in class tonight. If he can regain the form he displayed in his Turfway debut back in December then he certainly could be dangerous and is worthy of use as an underneath play in this race.
Race 4: Clm 5000n1y, One mile on the Polytrack, For Four Year Olds and Upward. (Post Time: 7:42 PM EST).
Selections: 6-4
(6) Skiffs Brewmeister: Have to respect this ten year old son of Milwaukee Brew for still chugging along and he absolutely loves racing at Turfway as he has finished in the exacta six times from eight starts. Additionally the mile distance seems to be to his liking as he has hit the board in nine of eleven career attempts at eight panels. The 72 BSR he earned in his most recent effort ranks as the highest last out speed figure amongst the entire field and he should certainly appreciate the bit of class relief he’ll be receiving tonight. Finally, Santangelo has done incredibly well with runners making their second start off of a layoff as he has been winning at a 33% clip and posted a $5.05 R.O.I. to boot.
(4) Ferocious Tiger: Thus far favorites have only won three of the last ten editions of this exact type of race but they have finished in the money in nine of those efforts; thus that makes it fairly hard to endorse this son of Sageburg as an on top play. However, this seven year old gelding has flashed some decent pace-stalking ability in his two most recent starts at Turfway and the eight panel distance appears to be well within his wheelhouse as he has finished in the money in seven of nine tries at a mile. Machado (18% win rate in route races this year) hops onboard tonight.
Race 5: Alw 5000s, Six furlongs on the Polytrack, For Four Year Olds and Upward. (Post Time: 8:12 PM EST).
Selections: 5-7-10
(5) Snow Leopard: Nine year old son of Red Giant has shown very good early speed in the past and has raced fairly well both at Turfway (finished in the money in five of seven starts) and at the distance (finished in the money in 15 of 26 starts). This is a very solid field for this starter allowance race but if Snow Leopard can turn in a repeat performance of his most recent effort over slightly longer (in which he earned an 83 BSR) then he certainly will be competitive tonight. Franklin remains onboard for trainer Godsey who does incredibly well with runners making their third start following a layoff (38% win rate).
(7) Ambidextrous Alex: This son of Broken Vow will be stepping up in class tonight but he has run very well in his two most recent efforts when sprinting here at Turfway. He does possess some tactical ability so look for him to either be on the pace contesting it with several other rivals (as there is a decent amount of other early speed drawn into this field) or sitting just a few lengths back and rating. McKee who has ridden this gelding for at least his last ten starts will once again be aboard this evening so that familiarity could work in Ambidextrous Alex’s favor.
(10) Birds Gone Wild: This nine year old son of Birdstone has run well in his two most recent starts here at Turfway against this class level and in fact has raced well at Turfway on the whole finishing in the money in six of eight lifetime starts over the Polytrack. There appears to be ample speed entered into this race such that a closer like Birds Gone Wild should have a legitimate shot at hitting the board tonight. Although De Leon has not been having a great meet thus far, over the past 60 days when he has ridden for Brownfield, he has been winning at a 21% rate.
Race 6: MC 7500, Six furlongs on the Polytrack, For Maidens, Fillies Three Years Old. (Post Time: 8:42 PM EST).
Selections: 3-4-9
(3) Already Gone: Daughter of Blame drops down in class tonight after a decent fourth place effort against tougher back on December 22nd. A repeat of that performance in which she earned a 72 BSR makes her the logical top selection in this race. Drury has done remarkably well not only with runners making their second start off of a layoff (38% win rate) but also with runners dropping down two or more class levels (33% win rate). Franklin remains onboard and over the past 60 days when he has ridden for Drury he has won with 38% of his mounts.
(4) Cherry Ganache: Daughter of Iqbaal makes her career debut tonight for trainer Wesley Ward. Her dam, Little Miss Julien, has produced two winners from three starters thus far. Ward, over the past three years, has been winning at a 31% rate with runners racing on all weather tracks and has won 26% of his past 326 starts with runners that are making their first career start. Angel Serpa gets the call to ride tonight.
(9) Foggy Kitten: Daughter of Kitten’s Joy will be making her 2019 debut for trainer Larry Smith after having been claimed from Ward following a fourth place effort at this distance and class level at the end of December. Smith has done incredibly well with getting runners into the winner’s circle in their first starts after having been claimed as he has been winning at a 37% rate with a $2.84 R.O.I. as well. If Foggy Kitten can finally start to put it all together and run a complete race instead of fading late then she could be a threat to hit the board tonight.
Race 7: OC 25000n1x, One mile on the Polytrack, For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward. (Post Time: 9:12 PM EST).
Selections: 3-1-4
(3) In a Flury: Throughout her career, this six year old daughter of Cosmonaut has managed to blow up the toteboard, both on top and underneath, here at Turfway at astronomical prices and tonight may be no different. She’s hit the board in half of her ten lifetime starts at Turfway and has finished in the money in five of nine tries at a mile. She’s flashed excellent tactical ability throughout her career as she seems equally adept at being on the lead and trying to wire a field as well as sitting back and stalking before striking late. Mojica remains in the irons tonight for Yates and he has ridden well in route races over the past year, winning them at a 17% rate.
(1) Lesia Jane: This filly, a four year old daughter of U S Ranger, will be making just her second start over the Polytrack tonight after having to rally to finish third against much tougher foes when contesting eight and a half furlongs back on January 4th. Thus she should appreciate the cutback in class tonight and if she can repeat or even better the 85 BSR she earned in that most recent effort then she certainly will be dangerous versus this field. Julie Burke (21% win rate in route races over the past year) remains aboard for trainer Kenny Cross.
(4) Tempestuous Amy: This four year old daughter of I Want Revenge will be stretching back out to a mile tonight after having finished second at this class level when last seen sprinting six and a half furlongs back on January 19th. Prior to that she handily beat a $15K Claiming field at this distance at the end of December here at Turfway, earning an 81 BSR. A repeat of either of those efforts may be good enough for her to have a chance at hitting the board. Ouzts (17% win rate when routing over the past year) remains in the irons for trainer Connelly (16% win rate when transitioning his runners from sprint to route races).
Race 8: Clm 5000n1y, Five and a half furlongs on the Polytrack, For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward. (Post Time: 9:44 PM EST).
Selections: 4
(4) Prom Theme: Massive kudos to this ten year old daughter of Noble Causeway for still being able to be competitive at her advanced age as tonight will mark her 102 career start (although the connections may want to consider a nice retirement for her soon, especially if she wins this race). Prom Theme has hit the board in 51 of her first 101 starts and finished in the money in 27 of her 39 tries over Turfway’s Polytrack. She has finished second sprinting six and six and a half furlongs at this class level in her three most recent starts since the Turfway meet began. A repeat performance of any of those efforts by this venerable war horse should be enough for her to win tonight. McKee remains onboard for trainer Douglas Danner and over the past 60 days when the two have hooked up, McKee has won with 43% of his mounts for Danner. Not sure as to whether or not Prom Theme will remain around her 5/2 ML odds but she certainly is worth a long hard look in this race.