Final Version: McLean’s Selections — With Comments — for Turfway Park on Saturday, March 25 — Jeff Ruby Steaks Day

(Stats to be updated after Turfway Park’s cards on Thursday and Friday nights)

Here’s our looks for Saturday’s super Jeff Ruby Steaks Day card at the new and improved Turfway Park. Will be on site. Come see us. On the rail in the new ballroom room…

1st: 3-11-9/4-7-8-1/2/5/6-10…Cigarette Boat (3) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter on Jeff Ruby Steaks Day at the new and improved Turfway Park. Exciting and fun day. Thrilling day. And, the fun kick starts at 12:45 p.m. for the festivities. This 3YO son of Kantharos will get treated with Lasix for the first time and the barn wins with .15% of the last 117 to do that. Also, picks up all-star rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. for the journey. Has not started since last July. But has run against some good ones — like Curly Jack — and has been training lights out. Look for this one to pop if set to go. Red Hot Rod (11) ran huge last May at Woodbine and over that AW surface. Been off since, but training very well for a conditioner who has won with .37% of 63 starters this meet. Look out here with a HOF rider in town to take the trip. Serious. Liquid Addiction (9) is a first time starter, but training like a champ here for a barn that wins with .10% of the last 224 to make the debut in the MSW ranks. Meet’s top rider up. Chance. I bet the 3-11 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will box the 3-11 again. I will key the 3-11 over (only) the 9-4-7-8-1 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 2-4/6-11/7-5/9-10/3-12/1-8…Gamer (2) gets the push here. This 4YO son of Twirling Candy has run two huge efforts over this surface to start the career. Ran 2nd both times. Gets Irad now and that may be the only addition this one needs. Look out. King Curlin (4) has run two solid 3rds in a row here, as well. Has some speed and that could come in handy here. Chance. I bet the 2 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 2-4 in the exactas. I will key the 2-4 over (only) the 6-11-7-5 in a smaller unit. 

3rd: 1/3-9-(13)-(14)/5-10/4-11/2-8/6-7…The first “Key Play of the Day” comes here with the railbird Angkor (1). This 5YO son of Anchor Down has the breeding to love the AW and it showed last time out in first try over the surface. Nearly won that one. Has ability and trained by a solid young conditioner. Love this one’s chances. I bet the 1 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will key the 1 over/under the 3-9-13-14-5-10 in the exactas. More with the 3-9-13-14. 

4th: 10-6/8-9-11/3-4/1-7//2-5-12…Noises Off (10) looks promising here. This 3YO gelded son of Candy Ride has the breeding to love this surface, and has run two giant ones over this strip, to date. Gets a top rider to take the reins here and the trainer is winning at a .23% rate after 105 starts this meet. Looks legit. Wico (6) gets Lasix for the first time and will run for the first time since last October. HOF rider takes the reins and could push this one to win. I bet the 10 across the board and then box the 10-6 solidly in the exactas. I will key the 10-6 over/under the 8-9-11-3-4 in two smaller units. 

5th: 6-(14)/9-10/11-12-1/3-5-4//8-(13)…Love to Run (6) has not been out since running 2nd in a Stakes at Woodbine last October. Has worked here for the return. Barn wins with .14% when away this long. Big shot, if ready. Bel Aria (14) could be a longshot possibility if she draws in from the AE List. Ran 2nd by a neck here on March 9. Will need to stretch out, but looks capable. Maybe? I bet the 6 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will key the 6 over/under the 14-9-10-11-12-1-3 in the exactas. More with the 14-9-10 than the rest.

6th: 2-3/5-12/7-11/8-9-10-(13)…Popnfizz (2) ran super here on Feb. 18 and nearly finished the job at 12-1 odds that night. Has speed and can motor along. If she can duplicate that effort? Salty. Giada (3) is a first timer for Brad Cox and Godolphin Stables. This daughter of Into Mischief has been training here and this barn loves to showcase on a showcase kind of a day. My pick here. My bet here. I bet the 3 — take note — across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 2-3 in the exactas. I will key the 2-3 over/under the 5-12-7-11-8 in two smaller units. 

7th: 7-3/2-4-5/1-8/6…Animal Kingdom Stakes…This 6-furlong sprint will kick start the beginning of 6 straight Stakes events. Love it. I go with New York Thunder (7), a KY-bred son of KY Derby winner Nyquist. Has won both of the career starts, to date, and has a win over the AW at Gulfstream Park. Has worked over this surface since early March. I’m in. I bet the 7 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 7-3 in the exactas. Sternly. And…I will key the 7-3 over/under the 2-4-5-1 in two smaller units. 

8th: 8-3-12/4-11/2-9/1…Rushaway Stakes…Reckoning Force (8) ships in from the Fair Grounds where this one was last seen running in a Stakes. Nearly won that turf battle. Barn wins with .19% when converting from the sod to the AW. Has won a Stakes without Lasix before. Important. Hot trainer, too. Has gone 2-2-1 in the last 6 here. Worthington (3) ran in the G3 Sam F. Davis last time out, and never was in the hunt. Should like this surface better and gets a top rider shipping in for the leg up. Look for huge improvement here. Moon Landing (12) ran a very solid race in the John Battaglia here on March 4. Moves to a new barn and this trainer is having a solid meet. Gets a HOF rider up. Worth a strong consideration. I bet the 8 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 4-11 in two smaller units. 

9th: 11-4/8/1-5-6-10/7-3/2-9…Latonia Stakes…Bellamore (11) did not get the kindest of draws and is stuck outside, but this 5YO mare has big-time ability. Has run in three straight Graded Stakes. Hit the board in two of them. Has a perfect 2-for-2 record over AW surfaces, too. Ships here and gets a veteran rider to take the mount. Serious. Il Malocchio (4) is worthy of a strong look here, too. This Ontario-bred has won two in a row and gets a HOF rider up. Stalker should love this surface, after going 3-3-1 in 11 starts over the AW other places. Must use for me. I bet the 11-4 across the board and then box the 11-4-8 in the exactas. I will key the 11-4-8 over/under the 1-5-6 in two smaller units. 

10th: 9-5/10-11-7/1-8-12/2-6-(13)…Kentucky Cup Classic…Santin (9) is a G1 winner of the Arlington Million and is now at the new and improved Turfway Park. Need any other reason to love what Churchill Downs and HHR have done for this place? Any other reason to vote to add sports betting to this place? Amazing place. This 5YO son of Distorted Humor has not won since the Million, that was run at Churchill Downs last year. But this one has speed and should convert to the AW very nicely. Has been working over this surface and has a bullet on March 10 to showcase his class and conditioning. I’m in. Wolfie’s Dynaghost (5) could be a surprise candidate. This one comes in off a win at Gulfstream Park over the AW and has a perfect 2-for-2 mark over this type of surface. Chance. I bet the 9 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 9-5 in the exactas. I will key the 9-5 over/under the 10-11-7-1-8-12 in two smaller units. 

11th: 5-8/1-2-7-4/6-3//10…Bourbonette Stakes…Botanical (5) looks to be in a garden spot here. This 3YO daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has the breeding and the local PPs to be a force here. Won the Cincinnati Trophy by over 6 lengths in a walk-over. Has won 3 in a row here and no other horse in sight. Could be any kind. I’m in. I bet the 5 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 5-8 sternly in the exactas. I will key the 5-8 over/under the 1-2-7-4-6-3 in two smaller units. 

12th: 1-10-8/4/11-2-7/3-5-12/6//9…G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks…The big race of the day now sports a purse of $700,000. Wow. Are you kidding me? Any other reason not to applaud Churchill Downs and HHR for what it has done for this venue? Any other reason not to give them sports betting to add to this menu? Come on now. Applause. Vote. I go with Major Dude (1) here. This one just won a nice G3 event over the sod at Gulfstream Park for a HOF trainer. Gets a world-class rider up and looks very tough if he converts to the AW for the first time. Stalker can pounce. Two Phil’s (10) is super consistent and has hit the board in 5 of 7 lifetime. Question is? Can he finish the job. I have questions about distance ability. Congruent (8) is my super play here. Came from last to run away with the John Battaglia. These sons and daughters of Tapit can take a few races to figure things out on the track. But when they do? When the light bulb goes off? Well, super things can happen. Looks like the bulb may have illuminated. Big threat and must use for me. I bet the 1-8 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 1-8 over/under the 8-4-11-2-7 in two smaller units. Come on 8.

13th: 8-11/6-(13)-12-(14)-3/2/7-4/9-10…Fast N Happy (8) nearly won the debut here for a trainer who more people should recognize and utilize. The man can frigging train a horse. This Runhappy filly came running with a serious blast in the stretch in the debut. If she clicks a tick earlier this time? Look out. Look. Out. I bet the 8 across the board and then box the 8-11 in the exactas. I will key the 8-11 over/under the 6-13-12-14-3-2 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene