McLean’s Selections for Turfway Park on Wednesday, Dec. 21

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

Here’s our looks for the “Hump Day” program on this Christmas week at the new and improved Turfway Park:

1st: 7-4-11/9-8/4-10/6…Dom Gervasio (7) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter in the twilight start time at the new and improved Turfway Park on this “Hump Day.” This 3YO gelded son of Astern comes in off a nice 2nd here on Nov. 30. Will return at the same level here. Rider is off to a slow start, but don’t be fooled. This guy can boot. Love the work on Nov. 22. Maqamat (4) is a longshot possibility. This one is listed at 15-1 in the ML by Brisnet.com. This is a 3YO gelded son of Into Mischief. Pedigree there. But? Only 1 third in the first 7 starts. Interesting. Roan for the Rose (11) comes in for a red-hot barn operation, which is winning at a .23% clip so far this meet after 22 starts. Drops in class here and returns as a beaten favorite. Barn wins with .22% of the last 452 to come back as a defeated fans’s choice. I bet the 7-11 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I key the top 3 over/under the 9-8 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 10-(14)-1/11-8-3/4/12/2-5-9…Forgot Password (10) goes for a top young trainer, and this one broke the MCL here last March. Off after that one until September. Ran well last time out over the AW and this one goes for a career-low price tag. Looks tough here, and the barn wins with .32% of the last 25 to return to the gate as a beaten favorite. Eiswein (14) ships in from Maryland and this one could be a tough out if she was to draw in from the AE List. Keep an eye out for this one, if she gets in. Je Luis Rapide (1) drops considerably for this effort after a poor performance over the slop at Churchill Downs last time out. Chance. I bet the 10 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the top 3 in the exactas. And, I will key the 10 over/under the 14-1-11-8-3-4-12 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 4-2/8/1-6/3-5-7-9//10…Livingontulsantime (4) drops to the “bargain bin” here for a barn that has won with .16% of 85 starts this year. Not hit the barn in the first 3 starts to this meet, but this son of Lord Nelson may improve with the drop in class. Good One (2) won by a head last time out and the barn wins with .20% when returning of a circle performance. Gets a clever rider up, and the barn wins with .29% of the last 91 to repeat in the claiming ranks. I bet the 4-2 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 4-2 over/under the 8-1-6 in two smaller units. 

4th: 7-1/2-5-(13)-(14)-3/8-11/6-12/4…Mighty Madison (7) looks salty in this spot for a top trainer. Rider is one of this meet’s best and knows how to boot them to the lead early and often. Sharp work at Churchill Downs on Dec. 10. Looks like this one should be a tough out at this sprint distance. In Color (1) looked good until she was checked hard in the career debut. Gets a new rider up here and has been training well for the 2nd go of it. Could be ready to pop, too. I bet the 7 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I box the 7-1 in the exactas. And, I will key the 7 over/under the 1-2-5-13-14-3 in two smaller units. 

5th: 2-8/6-10/(13)-3-11-4/1-12-5…Joyful Applause (2) gets the hard vote here. This daughter of Kitten’s Joy is coming off a 2nd in a G2 event at KEE over the grass. If she can convert to the AW in her first try here? Look out. Has hit the board in 6 of 8 so far. Will be a tough out. Deck of Cards (8) could be an upset possibility. This one is by KY Derby winner Nyquist and has run two good ones in a row over this track. But? The last out was in January. Long time between drinks of water. I bet the 2 across the board and then box the 2-8 in the exactas. I will key the 2-8 over/under the 6-10-13-3-11-4 in two smaller units. 

6th: 3/11-5-4/12-8-9/10-(13)/1/2-6…The first “Key Play of the Night” will come right here with Laugh and Play (3). This 3YO Into Mischief filly has hit the board in each of the last five races and has three wins in that mix. Has a 3rd in only previous try here and the barn wins with .19% over the AW. Look out here. I bet the 3 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will key the 3 over/under the 11-5-4-12-8-9 in the exactas. More with the 11-5-4.

7th: 8-6-10/(14)-11-2/4-3/7-9/1/5…Ian Glass (8) is the first “Upset Special of the Night.” This 6YO son of Hard Spun will make the AW debut here, but bred for it. Ran well at Hawthorne last time out and has hit the board three out of the last 4. Gets a Chicago-based rider up and the barn does win with a whopping .28% when going turf to AW. Returns as a beaten favorite, too, and this barn wins with .38% of the last 86 to do that. Lincoln City (6) goes for a top barn operation, which has moved East to go after the good money. In 6 starts this meet, the trainer has gone 2-2-1. Will make the first start for this barn here and in the last 200 to do that? Has won with .27%. Big shot here. Droppin G’s (10) ran in the G3 Ohio Derby and the G3 Matt Winn earlier this year. Has won over $154,000 this year. Class sort. I bet the 8-6 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 11-2 in two smaller units. 

8th: 11-2/8-4/3-6-9-12/5/1-(13)/7-10…The finale is a 1-mile event for the $30,000 claimers and I will saddle up with Dreamful (11), who comes from the barn of Brad Cox. Top barn operator is off to a slow start here, winning with just 1 of the first 12 outs. This one makes a big drop here and has a ton of speed. Gets a top rider for the occasion, and he has won with .20% of the last 10 for this barn. In 3 starts here? Has 2 runner-ups and one third. Look out. Bella Conchita (2) drops in class here too and ran a very credible 3rd last time out — coming from the clouds up at Saratoga. Have to like some here, too. Barn wins with .10% when going turf to AW. I bet the 11 across the board and then box the 11-2 in the exactas. I will key the 11-2 over/under the 8-4-3-6-9-12 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene