Turfway Park 03/15/2019 by Hunter Ulwelling (@hunterandhorses)
Race 1- 1st #5 Tizaboutime is taking a needed class drop, as his last race for $15,000 was a complete fluke. He was a $5,000 purchase, and he is a son of Tiznow. With the class drop being added, this should be an easier field to tackle and his trainer is at 33%.
2nd #2 Daringly Bold hasn’t lived up to the hype a typical son of Bodemeister would do. His trainer is 0 for 30 this year. Can things change here? I do question his soundness throughout his career if you see the major layoff towards the beginning of his career. His recent third places are the best in the field.
3rd #6 Bodhran was a $130,000 Keeneland Sale purchase by Midnight Lute who has only produced earnings short of $5,000. His races are so inconsistent that I really don’t trust him but if he can produce his race two back he’d be good here.
Race 2- 1st #2 Faith in Cathy just ran second for the $30,000 level, so this means she should win here, right? It took her ten races to hit the board, and I’m not sure why they even continued running her at some points. Her trainer hasn’t won a race since 2017 which makes it hard to take her here.
2nd #1 Magic Finnish is a first time starter by Magician (IRE) out of a Royal Anthem mare named Finlandia, who was a graded placed mare. None of her other foals have turned out to be any good at this point. Her trainer has won two out of five races.
3rd #4 Jessica Glitters ran her career best race last out even with a bad break, she pulled off a second place, which is almost the best out of this field. It took her six starts to hit the board, maybe we can keep the ball rolling here.
Race 3- 1st #6 At Guard has had a little over sixty days off so he is feeling nice and fresh as opposed to some of his opponents. He’s never been off the board at Turfway out of four starts, his trainers’ only winning horse at the meet.
2nd #5 Proven Warrior doesn’t strike me as a horse that can win two in a row, but I could be proven wrong! He was claimed back in his last race for $5K, as his connections didn’t want to let him go. This is a tough old gelding, he’s had fifty eight starts and is now nine years old, still strong at this level.
3rd #3 Dream Saturday won two here in December but hasn’t fired back with the same results. However, his race two back should be tossed out since the rider lost his irons. He ran second last out and she seems to like the track.
Race 4- 1st #5 Barrister Jim might be nine years old, but that doesn’t mean he is done yet! If you take a look at his performances throughout his lifetime, he did very well for himself in NY several years ago. Last out was a wide trip, but he’s had a little time off.
2nd #2 Court’s Ruling ran much better last out. Obviously something happened two back that just needs to be disregarded.
3rd #4 Double Deringer has had a case of third-itis throughout his life, with fifteen third place finishes, and four of them have been at Turfway. I trust he can come back with another third place finish in this spot.
Race 5- 1st #3 Sour Peach really takes a liking to the Turfway track with a record of 4/2/1 out of nine starts. I don’t usually see mares win two in a row at TP, especially at this level, but this girl knows what she is doing.
2nd #8 Allie Grace is hard to trust. Often times as the chalk, with last out being an exception, she tends to not live up to the hype. I don’t feel positive about her winning two in a row, but she’ll most likely be on the board.
3rd #1 Holy Cookie is definitely a turf mare specialist. She’s only won one race not on the turf, and it was here at Turfway. She isn’t consistent, but I think now that she’s ran a couple of clunkers, it’s time for a better race.
Race 6- 1st #5 King Valero has had a tough run and here is why. Call me harsh, but the connections have absolutely screwed over this horse by the races they have ran him in. He ran second in an allowance race, so they threw him in a graded race. Okay…. But, the positive is that this horse likes this level.
2nd #4 Mottaret is an interesting fella. His losing margins have me concerned, but the class drop was needed and I believe he can succeed with previous winning jockey Julie Burke aboard.
3rd #3 Unity is going for win number three in a row here. A $160,000 Keeneland purchase, this Stormy Atlantic horse hasn’t earned back his purchase price and has a long ways to go . Good news is, his connections are having an excellent meet.
Race 7- 1st #6 Dream Boat Anna didn’t run bad in the stakes race last out. She’s not a router and was used up in her race two back, so let’s throw it out. Mike Maker trains the daughter of Violence.
2nd #1 Wonder Stone is a big gamble. How can she be trusted with such a long layoff? Something went wrong. We have to trust that Wesley Ward has her ready to go, and this is a much easier race for her too. She may need an out.
3rd #4 Carina is in over her head here, but out of three races at TP, she’s pulled together a first, second, and third. Not bad, but this is a step for her against two talented fillies.
Race 8- 1st #7 Dhafeera (GB) took a while to pull herself together with all of those long layoffs earlier in her career. She enjoyed Santa Anita, but has since gone downhill. Her second place last out is good enough to win here.
2nd #8 Unexpected Visit ran at this level at the Fairgrounds earlier in the season, but it just seemed too tough for her. A little bit of relief by coming here.
3rd #5 Kimberly Dream takes a class drop here as she lost by ten lengths last out at the $15K level. Good spot for her.
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