The second week of the Turfway Park Holiday Meet kicks off on Wednesday night after several reminders during opening week about what lies ahead all winter in Florence, Kentucky. Remember regardless of results during the first couple of weeks to continue to stick to your process and make quality bets. It is a marathon, not a sprint.
Race 4:
There does not appear to be that much speed on paper in this open $8k claimer at 6.5-furlongs, which should benefit #1 Buzzer. The 6YO gelding has been given two months since a dominating 5.5-length romp as the odds-on choice in an allowance event at Belterra Park. The son of Sky Kingdom is 0 for 5 over this surface in his career, but was a different horse than competing for a barn that wins at a far lower percentage than his current one. Since moving into the Sergio Baez barn this spring, he has rattled off 4 of 8 and only finished off the board once. Baez has not started a lot of runners in 2024, but has meant business with what he has sent to the starting gates evidenced by his 39%-win rate. He should get another one here in gate-to-wire fashion under jockey Albin Jimenez.
Play: #1 Buzzer (4-1 ML)
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Race 6:
#4 Cruz Chica looks to make it two wins in a row after a very good-looking effort for the level on October 30 at Churchill Downs. In that $20k maiden claimer over the main track, this Flameaway filly battled early under legitimate fractions, put away the other speed, and had plenty left late to get the job done as the 5-2-second. The Lynn Cash trainee still has to answer the surface switch question, but I am hopeful she will do so without issue. Not only did her dam earn her lone career victory over Arlington Park’s synthetic surface in 2017, but Cash horses have produced a $2.41 ROI over a 31-race sample size when shipping into Turfway. Hopefully, German Terraza can avoid getting caught up in an early tussle stretching back out to two-turns. If so, I like her chances to make it back-to-back scores.
Play: #4 Cruz Chica (6-1 ML)
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Race 8:
Trainer Eoin Harty has had quite the two-week run. The veteran conditioner has won with 3 of 9, including a pair of Kentucky Derby points races with First Resort in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and Poster in the Remsen (G2). Harty appears to have a big chance as well in this first-level allowance event with #5 Abeyance. The American Pharoah filly raced three times as a 2YO, including a win over the Horseshoe Indianapolis turf, but has been on the sidelines since trying Grade 2 foes in the Jessamine last October. The Godolphin homebred returned off a 13-month layoff last month in two-turn turf race at Churchill Downs and ran a solid fifth at 10-1. She should be ready for a big step forward stretching out to 10-furlongs after shaking off the rust in Louisville. Corey Lanerie who will ride in Florence all winter, will take the call.
Play: #5 Abeyance (6-1 ML)
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