R1- 8- Times Square makes his second start of his career after a promising debut at Gulfstream Park over the turf last winter. Expensive son of legendary sire Tapit. Cost $250,000 as a two year old in training. Works on paper seem to look good, albeit over the Calumet training track. We don’t love playing short prices off long layoffs that are working out at the farm, but there’s not much in here to beat. So if he’s close to his ability and fitness level showed in debut, then he’ll air. McKee named as the jockey helps the case. 3- Private Boone disappointed last out at Mahoney Valley going 6f. a month ago. The two back polytrack route makes him the horse to beat of the outside two layoff horses aren’t race ready this evening. Like the jock upgrade off that last Turfway race. 2-Dirtydeedsduncheap projects to set the pace under the hustle rider Ouzts. If left loose could be hard to reel in.
R2- A group of Indiana breds will fill out our race two trifecta. We’ll give the nod to 4-Voodoothatyoudo. Given a brief freshening after getting tagged at this level in deep stretch last out on 12/28. Solid breeze on paper on Valentine’s Day. Here’s to a John McKee early double on this Saturday night. 3- Cora Anne is another Indiana bred we’ll give a big look to. Makes the fourth start of the meet. We like the confidence being raised to $8,000 claiming company after the win last out. We’ll gamble at 5-1 she’s up to the task asked of her on the raise. 1- Munchies closes out our tri. Similar profile as the second choice being raised to $8,000 company off a nice win. If both the 1 and 1A stay in the race, we’d likely put the two for one on top as both have a big look here, but we expect one to scratch since Prescott was named on both. Please be sure to check the late changes to make sure who stays in the race.
R3- Soft group of $5,000 time restricted claimers show up in today’s third. 1-Dream Park is a legitimate favorite based on that 2nd place effort last out at this level on 1/19. We expect her to run close to her peak Beyer speed figures from the summer today. Anything in the 50’s on the Beyer scale wins this race, and we think she’s sitting on a 50+ Beyer race drawn from the rail with Franklin in the irons. 7- Dayin Deauville is the logical second choice off that second behind our top pick last time. We worry she may ‘bounce’ off that first start in over six months. 4- Rockport Dancer has disappointed in the last few. But if she finds the form she showed on 12/7 then she’s got a big chance to win. Based off the recent efforts that’s a big ‘if’ and why she’s the third pick.
R4- This race is a tough Maiden Special Weight because some of the primary contenders are coming in off trainer changes from bigger stables moving to smaller stables and are off the layoff. Throw in a couple first time starters who look to have some run based on the works and this race is wide open. I suggest spreading in your multi-race wagers. 9- Amino is one of those layoff trainer changes horses. But we like the work tab coming in. Like to see they came up from Lexington to get a breeze over the track last month. 6- Quiet the Critics is a first time starter out of the Mick Ruiz barn. Steady and consistent work tab signal this guy might be able to run first time out. Not familiar with this jockey, so tread lightly here. 4-Getyourmindright makes his second start off the layoff while shipping in from Aqueduct. If this guy runs back to some of those Tampa races from last February and March then he’s got a big win chance here. We’d have him higher if he performed a little better in the Aqueduct race, but with that sub-par effort off the layoff we wonder if he’s the same horse after being sidelined for so long.
R5- 2- Brother Cesare takes the blinkers off and comes in off a brief freshening for the high percentage Contreras barn. We’re picking this guy runs back to the 12/13 race two back. 5- Monkeywitmybidness drops in class and cuts back in distance off that win in $7,500 N2L company. If this guy can sit mid pack and work out a descent trip, he can definitely have say late. 12- On John ran a big race New Year’s day while breaking from the rail. A course and distance winner last time makes him a legit threat to win this open affair.
R6- 3- Heavenly Hill has improved since being claimed by Mike Maker. A standout short price horse looks very hard to beat. We’ll swallow the short price, single in the multi-race wagers, and look for a price around her. 1- Sugarsugarsugar was a nice winner last time against similar. If ‘Hill is not herself today ‘Sugar is the pick to upset. Chalky exacta.
R7- 2- Broken Promise has been ultra-consistent routing on the Turfway poly this winter against allowance company. 2 for 2 over the surface. Reliable jockey Franklin in the irons. We’ll pick the 5-1 upset over our second choice 4-Royal Son the 6-5ML favorite. Maybe he’s lost a step since last season. Only had three races all of 2018, so we wonder if there’s issues that keep him from performing at his peak levels. 5-Midnight Pleasure rounds out our tri in the Saturday feature.
R8- 4- Artemus Bridge has been second in both career starts for the high percentage connections of Maker, Ramsey, and Prescott. Another step forward in the third career start should put him in the winner’s circle. 1- Unity has faces the top choice in the last two. If he gets a clean trip from the rail under Franklin, he can easily win. Tough to split the top two. 10 -Mr. Zydeco was disappointing in his polytrack debut. We’ll forgive that effort and hope for something closer to the Kentucky Downs and Ellis Park turf races.