Forego, WEBN next on stakes slate

The next two stakes at Turfway are both $50,000 races at 6 1/2 furlongs on the Polytrack: the Forego on Jan. 16 and the WEBN on Jan. 30.

With entries to be taken Sunday for the Forego, stakes coordinator Randy Wehrman said he is expecting a sizable field of older horses, including Big Blue Spirit, Doubledown Again, Impassable Canyon, Mesoma, and Plenty Elusive.

◗ As Mike Battaglia continues to phase himself out as the longtime race-caller at Turfway Park, Jimmy McNerney now will be calling races twice a week for the balance of the winter-spring meet.

For now, Battaglia will call Thursday nights and most Sunday matinees, and McNerney will call Friday and Saturday nights. McNerney – a rabid Cincinnati Bengals fan and season-ticket holder – will call this Sunday after missing the Saturday night card to attend his team’s NFL home playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

◗ There will be no racing at Turfway on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Monday, Jan. 18. Racing continues on a Thursday-to-Sunday schedule through February, with racing Friday to Sunday in effect for March and April.