McLean’s Selections — With Comments — for Turfway Park on Thursday, March 16

(Stats to be updated after Wednesday night’s card is completed)

Here’s our looks for the Thursday night action at the new and improved Turfway Park:

1st: 2-5/9-10-1/7-11//3/6…Hush Hush (2) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at the new and improved Turfway Park this Thursday night. This 5YO mare has raced here once before and that was a nice 2nd — way back in 2021. This gal has been away from the races since last July. Ran huge at Ellis Park. But off since. Now, this one drops to the bargain bin for the first time since running here the last time. Barn wins with .18% of the last 22 to drop this much at one time. Lady Livermore (5) drops to 1/3 the asking price of last time out and to the bargain bin for the first time ever. This barn wins with .25% of the last 8 to drop this much. Rider is 1-for-72 this meet. Ugh. I bet the 2 across the board and then box the 2-5 in the exactas. I will key the 2-5 over/under the 9-10-1-7-11 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 5-10/6-7-1-9/3//2-4…Off the Cuff (5) moves up a couple of notches in the claim game this time around for a top trainer in this market. Nearly won here on Feb. 10. Returns as a beaten favorite and the barn wins with .22% of those kind. Look out here. Flute Master (10) goes for a HOF trainer, who is winning with only 4 of the first 41 this meet. But this one drops from the MSW ranks into the MCL level for the first time. Barn wins with .20% of their last 298 to do that. Gets a hot rider up and that could help put this one in the circle for the first time. I bet the 5-10 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 5-10 over/under the 6-7-1-9-3 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 10-12/2-7/1-8/3-4-9/11/5-6…Hurry Hurry (10) and Hush Hush on the same card? Wow. Who would have figured? this 3YO colt was claimed for $30,000 last time out and drew off to win that one by nearly 4 easy lengths. Nice claim by this trainer, who is 1-for-22 this meet. Rider sticks and that is a plus. Could pop again. Pigalle (12) could be our first “Upset Special of the Night.” This 3YO daughter of Blame goes for one of the bet young trainers in the game today and this one won last time out here, as well. Barn wins with .31% of their last 58 to try winners for the first time. I’m in. I bet the 10-12 across the board and then box these two in the execs. I will key the 10-12 over/under the 2-7-1-8 in two smaller units. 

4th: 7-8-10/3-6/4-9/5-2/1-11…World Unite (7) drops to half the asking price of the last out and this one ran a respectable event that night here on Feb. 23, too. Should appreciate this class drop and the rider got experience here last time out. Will close well. Judy’s Ms. Officer (8) has run here 5 previous times with only one 2nd on the resume. But this one drops to a career low price point here and that should help. A lot. You’re Avoiding Me (10) could spice up the odds rack, a bit. This 4YO daughter of Outlook goes for an experienced trainer and should enjoy the return to the same level where she broke her maiden here on Dec. 30. Big shot at a price. I bet the 7-10 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 3-6 in two smaller units. 

5th: 7-3-10/5/9-2-6/1-4/8//11-12-13…Madrilena (7) ships back to KY after trying NY — the city so nice they named it twice — last time out in November. Training well for the return and the barn is having a solid meet, winning at a .21% clip after 98 starts. Rider can boot when he puts a mind to it, and this will returns to the gate as a beaten favorite. Barn wins with .38% of the last 40 to do that. Your So Sillea (3) has run well here, with only one 2nd to show for it. Fits here, though, and can flash some speed at them. Rider has won with .12% this meet. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 5 in two smaller units. 

6th: 7/1-9/6-5/2/3-8-4…The first “Key Play of the Night” comes here with War Campaign (7). This could give us three #7s in a row, too. Imagine that. This 4YO colt won last time out at Churchill Downs in November. Will make the AW debut here, but is training well over this surface and gets a rider who is better than most give credit. Will stalk and pounce if ready. I think he’s ready. I bet the 7 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 7 over/under the 1-9-6-5-2 in the exactas. More with the 1-9 than the rest. 

7th: (14)/3-5-(13)/6-11/9-12/4-7/1-8/10…If Good On Ya (14) draws in from the AE List here, then we will have our second “Key Play of the Night.” This 7YO Pennsylvania-bred drops to the bargain bin for the first time and should be a tough out at this level. Has a 3-5-3 record in 24 previous runs over an AW surface. Fits. Alfie Solomons (3) will get the nod if the #14 does not draw in. This 6YO gelding was claimed last time out and goes for a new trainer. New barn wins with .17% on the first try after a purchase and this one returns as a beaten favorite, too. Barn wins with .19% of the last 27 to fit that category. I bet the 14 if he gets in. If not, I go to the 3. Across the board. Box the 3-5-13. Key the 14 or the 3 over/under the 5-13-6-11 in smaller units. 

8th: 11/(13)-(14)/9-10/8-12/1-4//3…The finale of the night and I go to the outside and load up with my last “Key Play of the Night.” I think West Warpath (11) has the style and the look of a winner here. Has hit the board in each of the last 4 and has a 0-1-2 in 3 previous tries here. Has a good stalking style. One to beat. I bet the 11 across the board and then key the 11 over/under the 13-14-9-10-8-12 in the exactas. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene