Final Version: McLean’s Selections for Turfway Park on Wednesday, Jan. 5

Here’s our looks for this Wednesday night’s “Hump Day” card:

1st: 11-1/4-7-9-12/5/6-8-10…Lookin to Fly (11) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at the new and improved Turfway Park on this “Hump Day Night.” This 6YO mare won last time out here for $15,000 claiming and won it easily. Loses that condition, though, and has to face tougher here. Gets a top rider back up and the barn is winning at a .26% rate after the first 19 starts to the meet. Barn also wins with .40% when trying to repeat in the claiming ranks. Conundrum Queen (1) ran 3rd last time out at this same level and has faced tougher in the past. Barn is 0-0-0 in 3 starts this meet, but has won with .20% of the last 139. Gets the meet’s go-to rider here. Nice. I bet the 11-1 across the board and then box these two sternly in the exactas. I will key the 11-1 over/under the 4-7-9-12-5 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 1-4/2-8-5-3/6-7…Quality Star (1) gets the rail trip here, but it may be more of a curse for this late-running daughter of Animal Kingdom. Will need to navigate some troubled waters in and around to make the last scene. Drops out of a G2 event to this company. That should help and the barn is winning at a .41% rate after the first 27 trips this meet. Rider has won with half — 50% — of the last 16 mounts for this barn. Wow. Idiomatic (4) is a 4YO Curlin filly trained by a red-hot trainer, who has gone 2-0-2 in the last 6 to up his numbers here. Gets a rider who knows his way around the oval. Has speed and should be well positioned throughout. One to beat, IMO. I bet the 1 across the board and then box the 1-4 in the exactas. I will key the 1-4 over/under the 2-8-5-3 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 7-3/2-4-8-1/5-6…El Kabong (7) is a 5YO son of Noble Mission and a sire-line that can produce AW runners. This guy ran 3rd here on Dec. 1, but don’t be deceived. Was absolutely left at the gate and was many back throughout before a late surge. Must get a better start to have a shot here, but the Post Position is better and that should help alleviate some of the issues last out. King Kumbalay (3) could be a longshot and upset special. This one is listed at 15-1 in the ML and could be a threat. The PA-bred has run over AW four times in the career and has a record of 2-1-0. Will make first start for a barn that knows how to find the winner’s circle. Rider is 1-for-41 to start the meet. But he can ride. Just hasn’t gotten the nick of TP. Yet. I bet the 7-3 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 7 over/under the 3-2-4-8-1 in two smaller units. 

4th: 9-4/5-8-11/2-6-10/1-3-7…Dragon Drew (9) is now an 8YO son of Get Stormy and I remember his first Stakes win at the Fair Grounds for former trainer Buff Bradley. This one has speed. Not much of a governor on it, though. Will go early and often. If nobody goes with? Look out. Has raced here 15 times. Has a 5-3-2 mark. Solid. Loves the Tapeta. The Boss Factor (4) will be coming late and if someone else softens Dragon Drew up on the front end, this one could be very salty in the lane. Gets a top rider-trainer combo, who have teamed up to win .18% of the last 28 for the husband-wife team. I bet the 9-4 across the board and then box those two in the exactas. I will key the 9-4 over/under the 5-8-11-2-6-10 in two smaller units. 

5th: 8-(14)-7/2-3-4-(13)/6-12/1-5-10-11/9…Tuskegee Cat (8) moves back to the Midwest after spending all of 2022 on the West Coast. Trainer is used to winning more often and has found the KY circuit a bit more challenging than the digs on the Left Coast. This one has speed. This one is coming off a layoff. This one gets a rider who is 2-for-32. Mixed signals, but if ready to roll? Could roll. Has never raced for this low a price tag. Off the Cuff (14) is parked on the AE List and may not get in. But does have serious credentials and should get a top rider if the gates open. Take note. I bet the 8 across the board, unless the 14 gets in. If so? I bet them both. I box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 8-14-7 over/under the 2-3-4 in two smaller units.

6th: 9-3-5/7/1-2-4-8//6/10…Princess Nina (9) misfired last time out here on dec. 7. Never in the mix that day. Drops now for this $18,000 price tag. Will be the 2nd start off the layoff, too. Has had success here in the past and is versatile enough to dictate a good spot. Chance. But not bullish. Tiltingatwindmills (3) goes for a trainer who I know nothing about. Has gone 0-for-7 to begin the career? Picked up this one three starts ago at KEE for $20,000. Now, the mare is offered up for $18,000. Looks to fit here. Texas Magic (5) drops in class and should be a contender at this level for a barn that is searching for the first win of the meet. Trainer wins with .15% of those making the 2nd start since joining the new barn operation. Chance. I bet the 9 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 7 in two smaller units. 

7th: 4-10/5/3/9-6-7/2-8…Fee (4) is one of my top plays of the day. This 3YO daughter of Into Mischief is a home-bred and has run two good ones in a row for a HOF trainer. Rider is having a solid meet, winning at a .20% clip. Has speed. Can flash it early and often. Looks the best here, to me. Hurricane Debbie (10) is one from the barn of Wesley Ward. Has not raced since Aqueduct in November. Was swamped out of the boat in a Stakes event that day. Gets Lasix for the first time and the meet’s top rider. Barn is winning at a .42% rate this meet. Can’t ignore. I bet the 4-10 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 4-10 over/under the 5-3 in two smaller units.

8th: (14)-10-4/11/8/3-6-7/1-9…The finale is a 6-furlong event for the MC fillies at the $7,500 level. I will go with Puglia (14), if the 4YO daughter of Upstart can pull a miracle and make the starting gate. Drops considerably for this one and the barn wins with .33% when free falling in the claiming ranks. If she does not get in? I go with Bird Hunter (10). This one ran respectable at this same level last time out and was claimed that night. Barn has won with 1 of 2 to make the first start off the purchase. Gets the meet’s top rider up. That’s huge. Isabel de Clare (4) ran a huge 2nd at this same level last time out. If she can repeat that performance, she will be in the hunt late. I bet the 14 if she gets in. If not, I bet the 10 across the board. I will box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 14-10-4 over/under the 11-8 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene