Gene McLean's Picks

Sunday, August 31, 2022

 

1st: 9-(1A)-5-8/10/6-2/3-7…Southern Sense (9) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at the “Pea Patch” on this Sunday “Funday.” This 3YO gelded son of Street Sense comes in of a nice 2nd at Churchill Downs on June 29. That was at the $10,000 price tag. Moves up a notch here and goes from the dirt to the turf. Barn wins with .25% of those moving up a class notch and with .08% of those making this type of a surface switch. Gets the apprentice back in the saddle and may get the job done in try #12. T Money (1A) may get a sniff here if the 4YO son of Liam’s Map can draw in from the AE List. Will try a drop in class after a sneaky good effort on the first try in nearly two years and then a debacle last time out. Cuts back to the sprint distance here and that could help this one a lot. I bet the 9 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 9 over/under the 1A-5-8-10 in two smaller units.

2nd: 3-7/4-8-2/1-5/6-9…Liturgia (3) ran super in the last outing and if this 2YO daughter of Cairo Prince can duplicate that effort, she may be ready to graduate from the MSW ranks. Barn has won with .11% of the last 166 2YO starters. Rider is having a super meet here, winning at a .29% rate after the first 24 mounts. Look out here. Gathering Storm (7) is a first timer from the stellar barn of Brad Cox. Trainer is winning at a .22% clip this meet, after the first 9 starts. This gal worked a bullet here on July 25 in the mud. I bet the 3 across the board and then box the 3-7 in the exactas. I will key the 3-7 over (only) the 4-8-2-1-5 in a smaller unit.

3rd: 6-3-4/1-7/5/2…Devine Charger (6) returns to the sod here after a misfire over the mud here on July 9. That was moved off the sod and this one just simply didn’t handle the surface. Two races ago, this one ran huge against Twilight Gleaming — who is running in Stakes company at Del Mar this weekend. If this 3YO daughter of Will Take Charge runs up to those standards two races ago? Look out. I bet the 6 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 6 over/under the 3-4-1-7-5 in two smaller units.

4th: 6-5/1-4/2/3/7…One for Richie (6) could give us back-to-back “6s” in the win column. This one has been first or second in each of the last 6 races — with 4 wins in that mix. Last victory came up at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 6, when he romped to a 9-length win. Has hit the board in 9 of the last 10. The only miss with a 4th. I’m all in here. I bet the 6 across the board and then box the 6-5 in the exactas. I will key the 6 over/under the 5-1-4-2-3 in two smaller units.

5th: 2-1-(14)/5/7/10-9-4…Girl Named Charlie (2) gets the nod here in this grass event for the 2YO fillies. The daughter of Maclean’s Music will make the fist career start and the barn wins with .19% of those. But? Only wins with .03% of those debuting on the turf and that is over the last 29 runners. That is a concern. The dam of this one has thrown 2 turf winners already and the sharp work at Churchill Downs on July 26 is nice. Just Say So (1) is a first timer and that is a concern when they draw the rail on the debut effort. But this one worked well on July 22 and has the grass breeding that you beg for. By the grand sire War Front. Out of the Stakes-winning Galileo mare Say. The dam has thrown 2 turf winners already, too. Lots to like here and gets a great gate rider. Threat. I bet the 2-1 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 2-1 over (only) the 14-5-7-10-9-4 in a smaller unit.

6th: 3-11-2/12/4-7/6-1/5-9-10…Slim Man (3) goes for the barn of Brad Cox off a long layoff since March 13. First two races on the resume were spot on. Move up to 4th through a DQ in the last and has been rested since. Nice work here on July 23. Like it. If he is ready? Look out. I bet the 3 across the board and then box the 3-11-2 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 12 in two smaller units.

7th: 7-9-(12)/8/10-5/4-(11)-1…The 7th race is a 5.5-furlong sprint over the sod and I will go with the #7 in this event, as well. That is Sparkling Rose (7), who will make the grass debut after a better than looks effort in the inaugural event. Dam of this one has 7 winners from 9 starters and has 4 turf winners in the mix. Well bet in the debut and a sharp work readying for this one. Lots to like here. Secrets Galore (9) will make the career debut for a barn that has struggled in Kentucky must of this Summer. This one gets a bullet move over this track as the final tuneup and the dam is a Stakes winner, who has thrown 2 turf winners already, too. Rider is 1-for-23 to start the meet. Hmmm. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 7 over/under the 9-12-8-10-5 in two smaller units.

8th: 3-4-6/5-1/2-7…Wings of an Angel (3) has been facing the toughest competition and has run a couple of nice 3rds against tougher. Rider and trainer have started this meet a bit on the chilly side, but this one exits a couple of brilliant works. I lean here. Cancel This (4) goes for a ownership team of CJ Thoroughbreds and just three races ago was entered in the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks. Didn’t fare well in that battle with the likes of Kathleen O, but this one has some talent. Win at Churchill Downs to break the MSW was spot on. Has a 2nd on the resume from here, too. Chance. I bet the 3-4 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 5-1 in two smaller units.

9th: 4-7-8/10-9-3-2/5-6-11/1…The final race of the weekend is a 1-mile turf event for the 2YO fillies and I will saddle up with Southlawn (4). This 2YO daughter of Pioneerof the Nile goes for a barn that won the finale on Friday in a blowout. This one was bet down to the PT favorite in the career debut. Ran Ok against a filly who came right back to win the next time, too. Gets a new rider who has won with .17% of the last 12 for this barn. Move to the grass could help and will add the blinkers for the first time here. Big chance. Oh Pollyanna (7) will make the career debut here and comes in off a brilliant work at Churchill Downs on July 25. Dam has thrown a turf winner from 2 starters. Boudica (8) comes from a top grass sire and the mare was Stakes-placed. Works here over this track are solid and the Chicago-based rider comes in for the journey. Lots to like here. I bet the 4-7 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top two numbers over/under the 8-10-9-3-2 in a wide open affair.

Pick 5: (Races 1-2-3-4-5):

9-1A-5-8-10 x 3-7 x 6-3-4-1-7 x 6-5 x 2-1-(14)-5

All Turf Pick 3: (Races 5-7-9):

2-1-14-5-7 x 7-9-(12)-8 x 4-7-8

Late Pick 4: (Races 6-7-8-9):

3-11-2-12 x 7-9 x 3-4-6 x 4-7-8