Turfway Park Forgotten Kentucky Derby Prep: Battaglia Analysis

Much of the weekend attention will go to the Fountain of Youth, the Gotham, and the San Felipe. However, horses at Turfway Park will also have a chance at Derby points this weekend.

Turfway Park Struggles to Produce Impact

Turfway can be a really solid betting product. The quirkiness of the track can produce some absolute balloon payouts if you’re on the right horses. However, the unique all-weather surface has made it one of the least productive circuits on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The last time Turfway Park produced a Derby winner was in 2011 with Animal Kingdom. The only other horse to hit the trifecta since the installation of the poly track was Hard Spun who finished 2nd in 2007.

Kentucky Derby Saturday Prep Races

Betting News will bring coverage of all 4 Derby Preps this weekend.

• Fountain of Youth (Gulfstream Park)
• Gotham (Aqueduct)
• San Felipe (Santa Anita)
• John Battaglia (Turfway Park)

John Battaglia Full Card Selections

Turfway Park- Race 1

Post: 5:55 PM ET; $28k Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on all weather track; Entries: 9

• #8 RICHIES NOBLE GIRL (6-1) gets the top selection. She projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one goes out for the Morey barn.
• #7 ATLANTIC STRIKE (5-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #1 WINWARD FLO (4-1) should be a factor in the outcome of this race. She has a grinding style which can be a perfect trip on this brand of synthetic surface.
• #4 SOFIA STRONG (10-1) is a price horse and could be competitive in this spot. She is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.

Selections: 8 – 7 – 1 – 4

Turfway Park- Race 2

Post: 6:25 PM ET; $16k Claiming going 1 mile on all weather track; Entries: 13

• #2 CLEAR FOR ACTION (6-1) is the top pick. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #4 FLY NIGHTLY (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He makes sense on speed figures. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #5 VETTORI KIN (5-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has to be respected going out for the combination of D'Angelo and Corrales. This one has figures to win this race.
• #7 TORNADO BOY (12-1) is a price horse and feels like the kind of horse that is set to outrun his odds in this spot.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 5 – 7

Turfway Park- Race 3

Post: 6:55 PM ET; $32k Maiden Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on all weather track; Entries: 11

• #3 STAND FOR FREEDOM (7-2) looks best here. He goes out for the Wilkes barn and gets Landeros in the irons.
• #9 VERITABLE (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He is well bred for this spot. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #10 BATTLE BORN (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #5 INSOLITO (5-1) seems to fit well enough here and is worth inclusion on some of the deeper tickets.

Selections: 3 – 9 – 10- 5

Turfway Park- Race 4

Post: 7:25 PM ET; $22k Claiming going 1 mile on all weather track; Entries: 14

• #2 KILLER BEE (5-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #6 NOBLE JON (3-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #9 COMMAND CENTRAL (12-1) is a price horse and could really pull a stunner here. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #3 SENSE SHINES (4-1) goes out for the West barn and gets Bermudez in the irons in a race that is a real head scratcher.

Selections: 2 – 6 – 9 – 3

Turfway Park- Race 5

Post: 7:55 PM ET; $32k Claiming going 1 mile on all weather track; Entries: 13

• #9 PUSH BUTTON (8-5) is the top pick. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #11 DEL MO (10-1) is a price horse and isn't without hope. He looks to be the class of the field.
• #12 ROUGHIN THE CITY (6-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Cano and Rodriguez.
• #4 BOX OFFICE WARRIOR (5-1) seems to fit well enough here and is worth a look for backup tickets.

Selections: 9 – 11- 12- 4

Turfway Park- Race 6

Post: 8:25 PM ET; $150k Cincinnati Trophy S. going 1 mile on all weather track; Entries: 9

• #3 BOTANICAL (8-5) looks best here. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Landeros.
• #4 BULSARA (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She looks to be the class of the field.
• #5 TAMMY TAP TAP TAP (10-1) is a price horse and is worth a look at fair value for Bauer and Cannon.
• #8 JILL JITTERBUG (15-1) should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.

Selections: 3 – 4 – 5 – 8

Turfway Park- Race 7

Post: 8:55 PM ET; $74k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on all weather track; Entries: 11

• #11 RICOCHET (5-2) gets the top selection. He will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Maker and Corrales.
• #8 SUGOI (10-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. He has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #9 YORK TAVERN (12-1) projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #10 FLAGS UP (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. He should be in the first flight of runners and looking for that sweeping late move on the synthetic track.

Selections: 11- 8 – 9 – 10

Turfway Park- Race 8

Post: 9:25 PM ET; $150k John Battaglia Memorial S. going 1 1/16 miles on all weather track; Entries: 14

• #10 BROMLEY (5-1) is the top pick. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #6 AMERICAN SPEED (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Landeros.
• #3 GILMORE (3-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #11 MOON LANDING (12-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 10- 6 – 3 – 11

Turfway Park- Race 9

Post: 9:55 PM ET; $19k Maiden Claiming going 6 furlongs on all weather track; Entries: 14

• #14 CONNELMAURA (5-1) looks best here. She should be part of the early pace in this spot. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #9 AZAMANA EMPIRE (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #5 LUCKY CAT TOO (6-1) makes sense in this race. She projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one goes out for the connections of Jordan and Lagunes.
• #2 SHE'S A KEEPER (10-1) is a price horse and a speed figure play. This one has races that could get the job done and isn’t exactly facing world beaters here.

Selections: 14- 9 – 5 – 2