After a week off from racing due to poor weather and track conditions in Northern Kentucky, Turfway Park should finally be set for their late Pick 5 carryover of over $180k on Wednesday night. The sequence kicks off in Race 6 and concludes with a $30k maiden claimer at two-turns. Let’s see if we can earn our share of what should be a big pool to start the racing week in the Blue Grass.

Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.


Race 6:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 6 Halfway Joking; 2 Timetomakemischief
Backups: None

Forecast: As often is the case, this MSW event for 4YOs+ features a combination of horses that got off to a late start to their career and those that have had far too many chances to trust. 5-2-morning line favorite #1 Thunder Appeal fits under the former. The son of Air Force Blue did not race for the first time until September 8 of his 3YO season, which is saying a lot since he is owned/trained by Wesley Ward. Ward obviously is one of the best at having his stock ready early, so that is never the greatest sign. Add to it a pair of losses as the public choice to kick off his career and you have a runner I am quite willing to fade.

The same is true for 3-1-second choice #8 Shortstop, who fits under the too many chances branding. The Ben Colebrook trainee makes his eighth career start, third over the Turfway all-weather, after an even third-place finish with little excuse on December 14. #6 Halfway Joking and #7 Geno’s Myth also exit that race. Halfway Joking finished last of the trio, but I like him most in this spot. The son of Practical Joke gets blinkers in his second start of the form cycle after breaking slowly and pulling his way up to the front while three-wide before tiring late. He appears capable of a move forward with the start under his belt off the freshening and the addition of shades. #2 Timetomakemischief also intrigues in his first local start for trainer Whit Beckman. The son of Into Mischief has had plenty of chances thus far, but comes in off a career best run in his second start for Beckman. Gerardo Corrales takes the call.


Race 7:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 9 Tizzy Jojo
Backups: 4 Tall Girl

Forecast: #9 Tizzy Jojo returns to Kentucky after competing over the muddy track in a starter allowance event at Mahoning Valley to end her 4YO campaign. Prior to that trip to Ohio, the Indiana-bred tried the Turfway Park synthetic for the first time and ran well. The Tiz Sardonic mare broke a touch slow from the rail draw that night and had to be used quite a bit in the early stages by jockey Yan Aviles. Despite the less-than-ideal voyage, she finished second beaten just a length. The Tim Eggleston trainee moves outside, drops into the claiming ranks, and finds a field that lacks early speed. I like her chances quite a bit to get to the wire first with veteran rider Santo Sanjur getting the leg up.

#4 Tall Girl is an intriguing alternative. The First Samurai mare makes her first start off the claim for trainer Doug Danner. Danner sports an incredibly impressive $2.14 ROI at Turfway Park over a 532-start sample size and moves this gal up in class after a stalk and fade on January 3. She may have too much to do late, but if they go faster on the front end than I expect, she is capable of out finishing this group on the cutback to one-turn.


Race 8:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 6 Queen Judith; 8 Fantastical
Backups: 2 Quarrel

Forecast: #8 Fantastical is likely to be a popular single in her second start of the meet for trainer Joe Sharp. The Air Force Blue filly missed by a head despite getting a favorable stalking trip on December 27 against similar. She once again projects to get a prominent voyage in a race where there is not much early zip signed on making her the clear horse to beat.

#6 Queen Judith is an interesting option as well though in her first start since July ’23. The daughter of Empire Maker was in the Mark Casse barn, but now is under the care of trainer Larry Rivelli. Rivelli has hit at a 29% clip with a $1.96 ROI over a near 600-start sample size of horses coming back off 90+ day breaks. This gal has races to go back to that beat these and should be rolling late under Gerardo Corrales.

#2 Quarrel was beaten handily by Fantastical last time, but moves inside. This should allow jockey Walter Rodriguez to work out a favorable trip, instead of being caught wide in a race where those coming from off the pace were at a disadvantage. With a clean break, she should have no issue finding a much more prominent spot than she did to end her 2024 campaign.


Race 9:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 2 Enchanted Nile; 3 Sickle Dance
Backups: None

Forecast: The pace should be honest in this second-level allowance event at 6-furlongs given the presence of #5 Riparound. The daughter of Uncle Mo has a lot of early speed, but has struggled to finish the deal far more often than not, including last out when she made an easy lead, but tired on her own. She is likely to make the lead once again, but expecting her to finish this group off seems like wishful thinking. #1 Heart draws the rail after breaking from the far outside in her first race over this surface last month. The Brittany Russell trainee broke well from the far outside in that December 19 try and worked out a stress-free voyage, yet still tired late to finish fourth as the 5-2-favorite. She is likely to have to work much harder in the early stages from the rail draw making her tough to trust as the morning line choice.

#2 Enchanted Nile Is a tough read, but probably the one to beat. The 8YO mare has raced 37 times, but never over an all-weather surface. Larry Rivelli claimed her for $30k at Remington Park in late November and shows confidence raising her up in class for her initial try for the high-percentage conditioner. I will use her, as well as #3 Sickle Dance who makes her second start of the meet for trainer Kelsey Danner.


Race 10:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 3 Baroquen Record
Backups: 6 Mubarez; 4 Train and Trust

Forecast: I like #3 Baroquen Record most in the finale. The Caravaggio colt drops again in class after a stalk and fade effort against $50k maiden claimers to end his 2YO season. Expect a move forward here for the Skychai Racing homebred since his trainer has been on fire in Florence of late. In fact, trainer Mike Maker is 6 for 14 at Turfway Park over the last 20 days for an ROI of $4.91. It will not take much to beat this group. Jockey Luan Machado takes the call for the first time.

#6 Mubarez was made the 3-1-morning line favorite by odds maker Mike Battaglia on the class drop and surface switch for trainer Brad Cox. He gets some big-time class relief after a slow start off the board effort on debut against protected maidens at Churchill Downs. If the Maker charge tires in the lane again, this Authentic colt is an obvious alternative. #4 Train and Trust is sensical as well despite four consecutive off the board finishes to start his career. Trainer John Langemeier is far better known for winning with Indiana-breds at Horseshoe Indy, but is highly capable with animals bred in all states. The Tapiture gelding ran a bit better than looks in his Turfway Park debut in early December.

Good luck!