Final Version: McLean’s Selections for Turfway Park on Wednesday, Dec. 14

Action returns to the “new and improved” Turfway Park on Wednesday night and we will be revved up with a what we hope is a little wagering wisdom for you, me and the world to see.

Here’s our looks at the Wednesday — Hump Day — card:

1st: 8/9/2-6/4-5-10/1/3-7…The first “Key Play of the Day” will come in the very first race of the night at the new and improved Turfway Park. We will saddle up with Ethan’s Animal (8), who comes into the event for his first try over the Tapeta track in Northern Kentucky. This one has run on the West Coast up until now for one of the top claiming barn operations in the US of A. Barn has won with .20% of 1,051 starts this year and has won with .25% of the last 1,553 in the claiming ranks. Over an AW surface, this trainer has won at a .25% rate in the last 1,752 starts. Wow numbers. This one has hit the board in the last 4 outs, too. Look out here. I bet the 8 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 8 over/under the 9-2-6-4-5-10-1 in the exactas. More with the 9 than the rest. 

2nd: 5-9-(14)/4-12/2-7/6-10-(13)/11…Air Attack (5) drops all the way from a $32,000 level to the $8,000 mark here. Never been close to this low a price tag before. Goes for a barn that wins with .16% of the claim purchase and with .25% of the last 57 when dropping off the claim. Was plucked for $32,000 last out. Gets for $8,000 here. Gets a rider on a roll, too. If anywhere close to the level that he flashed at Saratoga this past summer? Look out here. Full of Luck (9) is another who will get the leg up from trainer Jonathan Wong (or his assistant). This one has hit the board in each of the last 6 starts and has been as consistent as they come with a 16-7-10 record in 54 career starts. Can’t dismiss this one, either. Amended (14) could be a late factor if he were to draw in from the AE List. Does have a third here in only previous try. I bet the 5-9 across the board and then box these two sternly in the exactas. I will key the 5-9 over/under the 14-4-12-2-7 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 7-9/8-1/2-6/3/4-10-11/5…Enjoy the Music (7) gets the nod here. This 5YO gelding comes in off a very nice, consistent record. Has hit the board in 8 of the last 9 outs and has a 8-5-4 record in 27 races, to date. Trainer known for spotting his horses in places where they can win, and this one looks to have drawn the perfect spot, too. Gets the meet’s top rider up. Will come late. Will come strong. Will have to beat. Silver Moon Road (9) has won 6 in a row and that’s hard to beat. Will race here for the first time and this gelding has 2 runner-ups in 2 starts over the AW. Barn wins with .11% when converting from the dirt to the AW. I bet the 7-9 across the board and then box these two sternly in the exactas. I will key the 7-9 over (only) the 8-1-2-6-3 in a smaller unit. 

4th: 1/9-10-5/2-8/6/3-7//4…The next “Key Play of the Night” comes today at this 11/16-mile distance over the Tapeta and with the rail bird Boltoro (1). This 2YO filly by the hot freshman sire Bolt d’Oro comes in off two superb races in a row. Could have won either of those MSW events at two premier meets. Those were on the turf and the barn wins with .20% of the last 490 when switching to the AW. Gets a rider who has made a nice showing in KY this year. Work here on Dec. 6 was spot on. Spot. On. I bet the 1 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 1 over/under the 9-10-5-2-8-6 in the exactas. More with the 9-10-5 than the rest.

5th: 2-(14)-10/5-8-6-11/4/1-7-(13)/3-9-12…Only Kidding (2) has run 9 times in her career and this daughter of Into Mischief has a win to her credit. Adding to the resume, though, is the fact that she has also gotten 3 runner-ups and 2 more thirds. That adds up to 6 out of 9 in the money. Not bad. Like to see her use her pedigree and talent here. Barn wins with .21% when going turf to AW and is looking for first win of this meet. Vaccine of Hope (14) could be salty if she draws in from the AE List. Has not raced since May, but the last time seen here, she found her way to the winner’s circle. Could do it again if she makes the race. In May Opinion (10) goes for a top, top horse woman, who knows how to get them ready and how to win. One of the best trainers who can care for horses in the game today. This one misfired last time out. But the two races before are solid. Chance. I bet the 2 across the board and then box the top three numbers if the 14 gets in. If not, the top two. I will key the top 3 or the top 2 over/under the 5-8-6-11-4 in two smaller units. 

6th: 2-6/1-9-3/7-8-10/4-5…Stellar Lady (2) comes out of three straight Stakes events and should prefer this group. Barn wins with .20% when going from traditional dirt to the AW surface. That’s with the last 64 to do it. Returns as a beaten favorite in the last Stakes, too. Barn wins with .25% coming back as the former fan’s choice. Adds up to talent here. Bulsara (6) ships in from NY for a top training operation and is coming off a Stakes race, as well. Ran a closing 4th in that one against some talented foes. Barn picks up the meet’s top rider for the assignment. I bet the 2-6 across the board and then lock them down in the exactas box. I will key the 2-6 over (only) the 1-9-3-7-8-10 in a smaller unit. 

7th: (14)-12-2/3/5-6-(13)-7-11/1-8/4-9…Win the Day (14) would be my top pick if this 3YO gelded son of Midshipman were to get lucky and draw in from the AE List. Ran a huge 2nd in the G3 Tokyo Stakes at Santa Anita just two back. In 10 career starts, has hit the board 6 times. Should love this AW surface, too. Needs luck to make the gate, though, and then a talented trip. Verstappen (12) will move into the top slot if the 14 does not draw in. This 3YO son of War Front has never raced over the AW. Yet. But should adapt for a trainer who hits with .21% of the last 52 to go from the sod to the synthetic. Gets a solid rider for this one and the work here on Dec. 6 was solid. Very solid. Kitten Mischief (2) is bred for stardom. Don’t know if that will come, but this gelded son of Into Mischief does come off two closing 3rds and the barn wins with .20% when moving from turf to AW. Gets a rising name in the jockey colony. Could surprise, but, to me, it won’t be a big surprise. I bet the 14 if in. If not, I move to the 12 and bet across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the top 3 in the exactas. I will also key the top 3 over/under the 3 in two smaller units. 

8th: 3-12-4/5-6-10/11/1-2-(14)…The finale is a 6.5-furlong event for the MCL fillies. Price tag is a modest $7,500. I give the edge to Rio Lady (3), who is a consistent  bridesmaid. Out of the first 12 career starts, this one has 6 runner-ups and a 3rd. Will get blinkers for the first time and the barn wins with .14% of those. Will move to the AW for the first time, too. May help. Gets the meet’s top rider. Should help a lot. One to beat if she can figure out the last bit of the race. Yellow Creek Road (12) goes for a trainer who has won with .05% of 63 starts this year. Ugh. Tian’ai Road (4) could be an longshot possibility here. This 3YO daughter of Shanghai Bobby has not shown much, yet. But? Barn wins with .18% when dropping this much at one time and the rider has won with 1 of 4 for this barn over the last few weeks. I bet the 3 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 3 over/under the 12-4-5-6-10-11 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene