Check out my Thursday (3-19-26) Turfway Park Race 9 analysis below.
TP 9 (Clm-30k/2L, F&M, 8f all-weather) – Post Time 9:55 PM ET
Primary – #4 FIREBIRD SUITE, #7 Lil’s Coffee
Secondary – #9 Tutta Bella, #2 Queen Mercedes
Horse Comments:
#4 Firebird Suite (3-1) is on the upswing for Thomas Drury, Jr. She was up the track in her first two dirt starts at CD, and she stalked the pace and was 2nd of 12 in a local all-weather route late last year. She added lasix, messed up the break, and rallied from far back to graduate by 3 3/4 lengths at this course and distance Feb. 12, and runner-up Got Gone was a next-out winner (placed first thru DQ). Luan Machado rides her well and she is fast enough to compete for the win.
#7 Lil’s Coffee (2-1) graduated in a local flat mile Mcl-30k affair (January 2025), and she landed the place at this level in her first start vs. winners (February 2025). She missed by a head in a starter allowance affair at TP (March 2025), and she split a 10-horse field in a turf route at Horseshoe Indy last fall (November 2025). She ended 2025 with a show finish in a local route in December, and she was up the track in an optional-claiming route Feb. 14. She drops in class and is a logical contender at this level.
#9 Tutta Bella (8-1) ran well in her last three maiden starts. She shipped to TP and rallied wide for the place at 7-1 odds in a Mcl-30k route in December, and she set the pace and prevailed by a neck as the favorite in a Mcl-50k affair at one mile Feb. 26.
#2 Queen Mercedes (6-1) was nowhere in her first two dirt sprints, and she shipped to TP and earned her diploma as a 41-1 longshot at 6.5f Feb. 25. The number she earned last time makes her a contender in this spot but she still must prove that she can handle a flat mile in her first start vs. winners.
Wagers:
#4 to win
Exacta box 4-7
Trifecta 4-7/2-4-7-9/2-4-7-9
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Feb. 27 – Biggiebiggiebiggie ($5.20)
Feb. 28 – Thought Process/Vibez Exacta ($22.80), Trifecta ($47.20)
March 1 – Mysterious Husband/Call Me Sir/Sneaking Candy Trifecta ($77.80)
March 5 – Saudi Crown/Bendoog Exacta ($6.20)
March 8 – Track Tiger/Sammy Davis Exacta ($6.20)
March 11 – Accent/Rugelach Exacta ($15.00), Trifecta ($41.00)
March 18 – Dienekes/Up Country Exacta ($51.16)
Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my full cards.
