McLean’s Selections for Horseshoe Indianapolis on Wednesday, June 28

Here’s our looks at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Wednesday — “Hump Day:”

1st: 6-3-8/9-1/2/4-11/5//7-10…Dare Me (6) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at “The Shoe” on this “Hump Day.” This 4YO Daredevil filly comes in off a series of nice races. Has hit the board in each of the last 4. Nearly won as the favorite last time out here on June 8. Will make the 3rd start off the layoff here and the barn wins with .17% of the last 589 of those kind. Gets a rider who has won with .30% of the last 20 for this trainer. Barn wins with .24% when returning as a beaten favorite, too. Lots to like. Fredericia (3) drops all the way to the $12,500 claiming ranks here after facing much tougher in the past. Has a 2nd in two runs here before and the barn wins with .30% of the last 33 to go from a route to a sprint. Hmmm. Splash of Tonic (8) nearly won last time out. Has hit the board in each of the last 3 outs, and two wins in that mix, too. Meet’s top rider up and he has won with .23% of the last 53 for this barn operation. Threat. I bet the 6-3 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 9-1 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 8-1/7-4-9/2//3-5-6…Strong Demand (8) drops to the “bargain bin” here after facing tougher. Only previous turn at this level? Nearly won on April 25. Top rider takes the reins here and that could help immensely. Simply Complicated (1) drops considerably for this try and the barn wins with 0-for-5 when falling this much at one time. Rider has won with only 5 of 106 starts this meet. Ugh. I bet the 8 across the board and then key the 8 over/under the 1-7-4-9-2 in the exactas. 

3rd: 5-6/4-2-1/3//7…Brittanysgldnfaith (5) will get the blinkers on for the first time and the barn wins with .09% of the last 47 to try the shades initially. Gets a rider who who won with .30% for this barn over the last couple of months. Has hit the board in 5 of 6 lifetime and figures to be a tough out here. Will be coming late. Imagine the Moon (6) ran well in a couple of Stakes in the last two outs and figures here with a little more conditioning. Barn wins with only .02% of the last 66 to make the 2nd start off a layoff, though. Ugh. I bet the 5 across the board and then box the 5-6 in the exactas. I will key the 5 over/under the 6-4-2-1-3 in two smaller units. 

4th: 2-7/9-4/(10)-(11)/8-3-5/1/6…What a Blast (4) gets the nod here. This 3YO son of Uncle Mo was purchase for $280,000 in 2022 and has earned just $40,000 of that back, so far. But this one could pop the cork in this effort. Rider has gone 5-2-4 in the last 18 and this guy worked a sharp prep on June 16. Look out. We Will Conquer (7) is 20-1 in the ML, and that will make this one an Upset Alert pick. This one ran 2nd on debut here on May 29. Certainly 2nd best that day, but the barn wins with .29% of the last 17 to make the first try at the route distance, and the barn wins with .21% of the last 24 to make the 2nd career race. Threat at a price. I bet the 2-7 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 2-7 over/under the 9-4-10-11-8-3-5 in two smaller units. 

5th: 8-1-10/5/6/4/2-9/3-7…Rosas for Luz (8) gets top billing in this one. The 2YO Indiana-bred filly looked like a winner until tiring late in the career debut. if she improves off that tightener just a little? Look out. Hot rider over the last week. Has gone 5-2-4 in the last 18 ups. Could be a good combo here. J’s Naughty Kitten (1) ran 2nd on debut here June 10. Well supported at the windows that day, too. Barn is off to a sluggish start here, but that can turn in a hurry. Rafaella (10) will make the first start of the career here, and the outside post is sometimes a bit demanding. This one has been working very well and picks up the meet’s top rider for the first event. Interesting. I bet the 8-10 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 5 in two smaller units. 

6th: 10-2/9-6-3-4/(11)-7/5-8/1…Tall Girl (10) will make the 2nd career start for this trainer, after being previously trained on the East Coast. Work on June 20 at Turfway Park was spot on and this barn wins with .23% in the claiming ranks. Drop here in class should help immensely and the rider is hot, as well. Oath of Allegiance (2) is a salty 8-1 in the ML and could be a nice surprise candidate. Will make the grass debut here and the barn wins with .13% of the last 53 to do that. Dam of this one has not produced a sod winner. I bet the 10 across the board and then box the 10-2 in the exactas. I will key the 10-2 over/under the 9-6-3-4-11-7 in two smaller units. 

7th: 10-11-9/4-7-8-12/2-(13)/6-1-3//5…Checkered Flag Handicap…This Stakes event is for the Indiana-bred fillies and mares and will be contested at the sprint distance of 6 furlongs. Salty group collected here, too. I will give the edge to the outside horses — led by Hot Little Thing (10). This 3YO Army Mule filly is now owned and trained by one of the best in the game. Ran huge in her first try for this barn operator. Will now move up to Stakes company for the first time, but has the ability to make the climb. Carimba (11) is another Upset Alert candidate. This one has never missed the board and has won 4 of 6 lifetime. But? Enters here at ML odds of 8-1, despite having the meet’s top rider up. Too much here to pass up. Take note. Buoy (9) is 20-1 in the ML and will go to the post for the first time for new trainer Tommy Drury — one of the best young people in the game today. Will make the 2023 debut here, but this one has raced 9 times over this surface and has gone 3-1-1. Likes the surroundings and gets a top rider in these parts to take the reins. Has won with 4 of the first 14 ups. Equals .29% in the saddle. Like it. I bet the 11 — take note — across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/uneer the 4-7-8-12-2 in two smaller units. 

8th: 11-8-7/4/(13)-10-6-5/3-2/1/(14)…Brickyard Handicap…Another Stakes event for the Indiana-breds and this time it will showcase the males. Nobody Listens (11) comes not this one off a near-miss 2nd last time out and has a 8-5-0 record in 15 runs here. Rider is 0-for-7 for this barn, though, and this one is a tough group. Mr Chaos (8) has a 5-4-0 mark in the first 11 career outings. Started the year with a near-miss 2nd in a Stakes event here on June 7. Could have easily won that one, too. Barn wins with .33% when returning as a beaten favorite and with .17% on the 2nd start of the layoff. One to beat, IMO. Fortin Hill (7) rates a serious consideration, too. This one goes for a top barn operator, who has won with .22% of the first 18 saddle jobs here this meet. I can toss the G1 event last time out. Before that, this one had hit the board in three in a row and 6 of the last 7. Consistent sort has talent. Our very own, Wire the Cash (13) is on the AE List. If he does draw in, might want to spread a little love over his saddle towel. Guy has talent and ran huge on May 24 to start the year and off the layoff. Rider wants to do well here. Motivated. Could be a good combo. I bet the 8-13 across the board — take note. I will key the 8-13 over/undeer the 11-7-4 in two smaller units. 

9th: 8-11/9/7-3/2-6-10/5-12-(13)…The day’s finale for the Thoroughbreds is a 1-mile event over the sod and it is a MSW deluxe. I go with Tourastar (8) in this spot. Top trainer ships in from KY with this 4YO daughter of Tourist. Ran well here on May 18. Any improvement at all, and this one could dominate. I bet the 8 across the board and then box the 8-11 in the exactas. I will key the 8-11 over/under the 9-7-3-2-6-10 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene