Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Ron Gierkink handicaps the Wednesday, March 11 racing card at Turfway Park, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 1.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Ma Rae’s Girl (1st race)
First Race
1. Ma Rae’s Girl
2. Don’t Say It
3. Tiger Division
MA RAE’S GIRL is plunging in class off a troubled subpar showing on the dirt at Oaklawn and could be taking an edge in this $30K non-three claimer. She won an N1X Tapeta route here late in 2023 before ending up sixth in the Valdale Stakes, her only two synthetic starts. DON’T SAY IT is coming off a belated third vs. $50K non-three stock under leading rider Machado, and this second start of her form cycle could be even better. TIGER DIVISION is jumping up off a decisive score over $15K non-two types and might not be out of her league in her second try off a bargain $7.5K claim.
Here are Ron’s thoughts on the other nine races on Wednesday’s Turfway Park card.
Second Race
1. Special Sauce
2. Tiz China
3. Emily’s Joy
SPECIAL SAUCE prevailed in the front-end battle before winning the war going away in another $30K sprint Feb. 11. She could strike again with Rodriguez back riding for 30% trainer Rivelli—they’re a combined 5 for 14 at the meet. TIZ CHINA, another Rivelli charge, is dropping off a wide/flat fourth for $50K and should be the main threat to her stablemate. EMILY’S JOY is back in a logical spot after coming up empty in the one-mile Cincinnati Trophy Stakes.
Third Race
1. On Palm Sunday
2. Looking Good Lewis
3. Notah
ON PALM SUNDAY defeated $7.5K non-three rivals with a career high 74 Beyer two back and is coming off a wide third at this open $8K class. He’s seemingly in peak form and should be charging into contention on the far turn en route to a high placing in his first try under journeyman Contreras. LOOKING GOOD LEWIS went to the sidelines after a wide third in a $5K starter allowance in late December and would be dangerous on a repeat of that performance. NOTAH has been in a tailspin on the dirt in allowance company since October. He’s dropping off a cliff and has some synthetic breeding.
Fourth Race
1. Max n’ Lou
2. Rachael’s Wagon
3. Summer Sounds
MAX N’ LOU just missed two back in his first Tapeta start and is coming off a dull fourth behind a next-out winner in another $7.5K maiden sprint here. He could rebound and break through at a square price in his third race off a break if the stretch-out to a mile is within his range. RACHAEL’S WAGON placed in two Tapeta routes at different tracks last October before tailing off and was along for second when returning from a break while descending to this level here Feb. 21. SUMMER SOUNDS is bred to be a late bloomer and could wake up for successful second-out trainer Danner.
Fifth Race
1. Juanita Mychiquita
2. Miss Queue
3. Mamarsha
JUANITA MYCHIQUITA garnered some action at 6-1 before fading late to fifth after leading the way at first asking in an identical spot. Machado takes over, and the meet’s leading rider is 2-for-4 at this stand for 10% second-out trainer Davis. MISS QUEUE filled out the exacta in two of her last three excursions and has worked quickly in advance of her third start off the shelf. MAMARSHA found her calling here on the Tapeta this winter and should be along to garner some of the scraps, at the very least.
Sixth Race
1. Baby Max
2. First Strike
3. Prince of Power
BABY MAX is reacquiring Lasix off a commendable second behind the classy Honor Marie in the Dust Commander Stakes and should be dangerous in this conditioned allowance/optional claimer. His new rider, Ramos, is 2-for-8 at the meet for Danner. FIRST STRIKE cleared the second allowance condition with a big 90 Beyer while doubling up as a longshot Feb. 6 and should be prominent if he stays in the zone. PRINCE OF POWER attended a quick pace before tiring to fourth in the Dust Commander. Use him underneath in the exotics, along with TALL BOY.
Seventh Race
1. Givethedevilhisdue
2. Quiet Mischief
3. Question Answered
GIVETHEDEVILHISDUE is hard to go past in this one-mile maiden special off his charging second at first asking in a six-furlong maiden special, for which he got a 78 Beyer. The son of Goldencents is bred to handle the stretch-out to a mile, and his good second-out trainer, DeVaux, looks poised to get off the schneid at the meet. QUIET MISCHIEF, another son of BC Mile victor Goldencents, wasn’t a factor during his troubled debut after getting bet down to 5-1. He deserves a mulligan with Cheminaud back aboard for Riley Mott, a successful combo. QUESTION ANSWERED checked in second at 13-1 when adding Lasix to his arsenal off a layoff Feb. 14. He could be the main threat to his favored stablemate Givethedevilhisdue if Quiet Mischief doesn’t improve.
Eighth Race
1. Your Mission
2. Nice Shot Doug
3. Finn McSorley
YOUR MISSION never fired vs. $30K non-three opponents last out Jan. 17 after beating $15K non-two rivals with a 71 Beyer in December. He figures to get back on track in this $15K non-three mile with nearly two months off leading up to this engagement. NICE SHOT DOUG stepped up in price when beating $15K non-two adversaries at 43-1 a month ago and probably isn’t out of his league with these. FINN MCSORLEY defeated non-two stock the last time he saw action Jan. 1, from which the third horse exited to prevail at the same $15K class with a 72 Beyer.
Ninth Race
1. Jill Jitterbug
2. Family
3. Keyana
JILL JITTERBUG placed in two of her last three outings against N2X/$40K opposition and could end a long drought in this N1X with a $25K-claiming option. She could sit a lovely trip near all the speed drawn to the inside before going in for the kill. FAMILY battled for the lead before weakening late to second when exiting another layoff while returning to Turfway Feb. 14. KEYANA got a big chunk of the winter off following her fade job in a restricted stakes at Remington Dec. 28. The daughter of Omaha Beach has worked fast at Keeneland leading up this contest and could fare much better than she did when sixth here in the ’25 Gowell Stakes.
Tenth Race
1. Jittier Girl
2. Dizzy Chick
3. Jendini
JITTIER GIRL finished fourth behind two next-out winners the only time she went postward in another maiden special Dec. 27. Beattie has impressive numbers with maiden second-timers, and this 4yo has worked regularly of late at Penn National. DIZZY CHICK, another second-out comebacker, ran third at 40-1 when debuting for $50K here in December and is a good fit from a Beyer perspective. JENDINI is making her first start with the pedigree of a router. Consider the daughter of outstanding broodmare sire Bernardini for the lower rungs of the exotics, along with LORIEBETH.
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