Gene McLean's Picks

August 27, 2022

 

1st: 8-9/6-2/5/7/3/4-1...Housed (8) gets the nod in the ole' lid-lifter at the "Pea Patch" on this day. This 2YO son of Ghostzapper will start the career in the MCL ranks and will be offered up for the tidy price of $50,000. Barn wins with .18% when debuting in the grass races. Rider has won with 2 of the last 3 for this trainer. Works are solid. I give this one a big shot here. Mojito (9) is another first timer and the barn wins with .10% of the last 30 to debut on the sod. Breeding screams grass and the rider has won with .20% with the last 5 for this barn. Like the last work. I bet the 8-9 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 8-9 over/under the 6-2-5-7 in two smaller units.

2nd: 2-3-7/4-1-5/6...Beyblader (2) drops to a career-low price tag here after being claimed for $50,000 just two starts ago. Aggressive spot here and the barn wins with .37% of the last 60 to make the 2nd start after a claim. Barn's go-to rider takes the mount and he's won with .22% of the last 32 rides for this outfit. Should love this grouping. Blunder (3) was a claim last time out and will inch North in the ranks here. Barn wins with .19% on the first try after a purchase. This one has hit the board in the last 3 outings and has gone 0-2-1 in 3 starts here, previously. Blow Torch (7) drops to a career-low price tag here and should fit nicely with this level. Ran very well against tougher just two starts ago. Worthy a look. I bet the 2-7 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 2-7 over/under the 3-4-1-5 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 4-2-1/3-6-7/8/5...Stayed in for Half (4) won the last time out here on the lead and now will move up to face tougher. Barn wins with .20% when racing over the sod for the 2nd time and this one has faced some good ones in the past -- like Zozos. Has speed. Will burn early. Real News (2) won the last time out and that was off a long layoff. In 15 grass starts now, this one has a 5-2-1 mark. Has 4 wins in 11 tries at this speed distance. Another who will press the pace. Mr Sippi (1) may be the horse to watch here. This one will fly late and a speed duel good set it up perfectly for this lane runner. Has won 2 in a row and hit the board in the last 5. Take note. I bet the 4-1 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 4-1 over/under the 2-3-6-7-8 in two smaller units.

4th: 10-7-8/1-3-5/2-6-4/9-11...Park Angel (10) goes for a trainer who does not start many, but when he does? Take note. This filly has raced only once. Was 2nd at odds of 45-to-1. I touted that day, too. Dam has 1 winner from 3 starters and 1 turf winner. Looks like she will run late and run longer, too. Cause Celebre (7) ran super well in the late going of the debut race. Off to a sluggish start in that one. If this daughter of Gun Runner can break a tad better? Look out. Strawberrylemonade (8) could spice up the odds rack here. This 3YO daughter of Can the Man has been right there in the last two and would not take much improvement to find the winner's circle for the first time. Love this veteran rider, who is having a very solid meet. I bet the 10-7 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 10-7 over/under the 8-1-3-5-2 in two smaller units.

5th: 5-2-(13)/12/3-1-9-(14)-8/6-11/4...Salute the Stars (5) ran super in the stretch last time out in the career debut. This one was "sandwiched" at the start of that one and that is enough to compromise any horse. Top rider is back for this trip. A cleaner start? Look out. Oscar Eclipse (2) is bred for the grass and the distance. This one was making up ground in the career debut here on July 24. Winner that day was super impressive. Look for this one to improve immensely off that first effort. I bet the 5 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 5-2 over/under the 13-12-3-1-9-8 in two smaller units.

6th: 3/12-1-11/6-8/5-9-10/2-4...The first "Key Play of the Day" is Famed (3). This 3YO daughter of Uncle Mo is a homebred for the highly-successful Godolphin Stables. This one has been 3rd in the last two and should be plenty fresh off the layup. Works in the a.m. are good enough. Rider is a good gate rider, too. If this one breaks well? Look out. I bet the 3 across the board and then key the 3 over/under the 12-1-11-6-8 in the exactas. 

7th: (11)/4-6-2/8-9/7-10/3...Outlining (11) will take my money if this 3YO daughter of Cupid draws in for the "Main Track Only." If it stays on the grass, then this one will not run and I will divert. I go to Miss Bellatrix (4). This one is coming off a long layoff, and will get Lasix for the first time. Barn wins with only .08% getting the anti-bleeder medication, but this barn wins with .20% off this kind of a layup. Work on Aug. 11 was spot on. Looks ready. Reagan's Decision (6) is coming off a bit of a vacation, too, but has maintained the work schedule and gets a top rider for the journey. Last time this rider teamed up with this filly? They won the debut race in December at the Fair Grounds. Interesting. Chione (2) goes for a top barn operator, who is winning at a .21% rate this year. This one broke the maiden just two races back and could improve for this one. I bet the 11 if she draws in. If not? I go with the 4 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 11 or the 4-6-2 over/under the 8-9 in two smaller units.

8th: 4/2-3/7/5-9/6-12...The day's finale is a 1-mile test over the sod and I will go with my next "Key Play of the Day" -- Tuanis (4). This 3Yo gelded son of Uncle Mo goes for a top barn, which is winning at a .25% rate this meet. Can toss the last one up at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Before that? Ran well. Will drop all the way to the $16,000 tag here and that should boost this one's chances more than anything else. Rider has won with .33% of the last 9 for this barn. I bet the 4 across the board and then key the 4 over/under the 2-3-7-5-9 in the exactas. More with the 2-3 than the rest.

 

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Pick 5 (Races 4-5-6-7-8):

4-7-8-1-3-5 x 5-2-(13)-12 x 3 x (11)-4-6-2 x 4 = $.50-cent ticket costs $48

 

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All Turf Pick 3  (Races 5-7-8):

5-2-(13)-12-3-1 x 4-2-6 x 4 = $3 ticket costs $54

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene