Horses of note in Turfway Park's $13,383 Single 6 carryover

An exciting evening of racing at Turfway Park just got even better.

Friday’s eight-race card was already shaping up to be a good one, with Kentucky Derby contenders taking center stage in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial and Kentucky Oaks candidates shining in the $65,000 Cincinnati Trophy.

But throw in a couple of carryovers, and the action becomes even more enticing. The main highlight is a $13,383 carryover in the Single 6 (Pick 6), but there’s also an $886 Super Hi 5 carryover up for grabs.

The Single 6 kicks off in Race 3, with a scheduled post time of 7:16 p.m. ET. Let’s highlight a handful of notable runners from the sequence:

Best single

Race 6 (Maiden Special Weight): #4 Hulda (7-2)

Trainer Jonathan Thomas has been ultra-hot at Turfway this winter, going 9-for-17 (53%), and his record might well be 10-for-17 if Hulda hadn’t received a nightmare trip in a 1 1/8-mile maiden race last month. After breaking alertly and settling into a tracking position, Hulda clipped heels severely on the far turn and nearly unseated her rider, losing a ton of momentum in the process. Thereafter, she wasn’t persevered with and trailed home under her own power.

With a clean trip, Hulda is capable of running much better on Friday. Thomas strikes at a lofty 33% rate with second-time starters and hot jockey Gerardo Corrales picks up the mount, stamping Hulda as the filly to beat.

Live longshot

Race 5 (John Battaglia Memorial): #9 Fort Moultrie (20-1)

Hailing from the barn of hot trainer Reeve McGaughey (a 31% winner at Turfway), Fort Moultrie showed grit to narrowly win a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Turfway three weeks ago. After tracking the pace from fourth place, Fort Moultrie seized command and dug deep to prevail by a head.

This effort produced a solid 89 Brisnet Speed rating, among the higher figures in the John Battaglia field. One more step forward can place Fort Moultrie in the hunt for victory at a big price.

Vulnerable favorite

Race 5 (John Battaglia Memorial): #1 Gretzky the Great (3-1)

Gretzky the Great is clearly the most accomplished runner in the John Battaglia Memorial field, having posted a decisive victory in the Summer (G1) at Woodbine last season. But the son of Nyquist hasn’t run since November and has posted just six workouts in preparation for his 2021 debut, so he’s probably not cranked for a peak effort off the layoff. In addition, drawing the rail could lead to a tricky trip, making Gretzky the Great tough to trust at a short price.

Good luck!