McLean’s Selections for Indiana Grand On Indiana Derby Day — Wednesday, July 7

It’s the big day. It’s Indiana Derby Day.

A day of celebration and a day when the big girls (Indiana Oaks) and the big boys (Indiana Derby) come to town. It’s the day the circus rolls in for all the festivities.

And, one of the biggest “clowns” in the game today — blush — will be on location, too. I will be there to supply all the comic relief and make all of you feel better about your own picks.

Here’s a look at our selections for Indiana Grand on Wednesday. But, in all seriousness, over the last two years, I have gotten to know how to find this track along the back roads and to find this track both appealing and so rewarding.

Truthfully, it is one of my most favorite racetracks in the world. The people are so kind and generous. The staff so accommodating and pleasant. And, above all else, the management team is the most fun in the business. And, this should be a fun business. A fun game. And, Indiana Grand makes it just that.

I will be on location and doing whatever I can do to help promote the Indiana Derby; the Indiana Oaks; the rest of the Stakes races on the card; and the most wonderful Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.

Here’s our looks:

1st: 3-5/2-6/4-1…Itasca (3) gets my call in the ole’ lid-lifter on the “big day” of racing at Indy Grand — Indiana Derby Day. this 4Yo son of Run Away and Hide comes into this one with four finishes in the Top 3 in a row. In 5 starts here? Has a win; a second and two thirds. At this distance, though, has a win and two seconds in three starts. A top rider on the grounds takes the reins again. Looks to be the one to beat. Traffic Stop (5) could add some real value to the exotics here, though. this one has not been close in the last three outings. But drops to the bargain bin here for a barn that is struggling a bit here this meet. Has only 1 win in the first 22 starts. Has only .04% winners in 52 starts this year, too. But This one could relish the class relief here and does have a win over this track. I bet the 3 across the board and then box the 3-5 in the exactas. I will key the 3 over/under the rest of the numbers in two smaller units.

2nd: 5-7-3/2-1/4…Remembrance (5) will drop from the MSW ranks into the MCL level for the first time and will move to the sod for the initial time, as well. Barn wins with .23% on the 2nd career start and that is with a sample size of 79 runners. Look for huge improvement here in this one and gets a top end rider up for the occasion. Look out. Beach Peach (7) returns to the same level where she nearly won last time out on debut. That was over the slop, though, and this one cantered along near the front for the entire process. Caught late. Barn wins with .23% of those on the grass for the first time and with .26% on the 2nd career start. Was odds-on in the debut and just missed. One to beat. I bet the 5-7 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 5-7 over/under the 3-2-1-4 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 5-1/6-3/7-2-4…Miss Deputy Start (5) is a 3YO Indiana-bred filly that we have run up against in the past, and the regular rider on our filly — Diamond Solitaire — also is the regular pilot on this one, too. This gal nearly won the last time out and has hit the board in each of the last three tries. Trainer does a very solid job and will add blinkers to the equipment here for the first time. Barn wins with .13% when it does that. Look for more. Express Lady (1) is a 4YO and has the age advantage over our top selection. This one has raced here 10 times, too, and has a 1-1-1 record to show for the efforts. Does have 3 4ths that don’t show up, though. Gets a rider switch and that may assist the effort. Does have some speed and has run two good ones in a row. I bet the 5 to win/place/show and then box the 5-1 in the exactas. I will key the 5 over/under all the numbers listed in two smaller units.

4th: 4-2/1-3-6/5/8…This is the second of the five turf races carded and I will saddle up with Breeze Rider (4). This 4YO daughter of Painter goes for a trainer that wins with .30% of those that return with a beaten favorite. And, this filly was nipped last time out as the fan’s choice. Over the last six starts, this one has three wins; a second; and a third. Has a second in only previous try here and a win at the only previous time run at this distance. Gets a top local rider up, who knows this course very well. Will be a tough out here. Ylikedis (2) will make the first start for the new barn operation, and it wins with only .05% of the last 43 to make a debut with the new connections. But? This one has all the credentials to be a contender here. Top grass rider takes the reins, and this one is coming off a Stakes effort. Dam of this one was a Stakes-winner and has thrown 4 turf winners — including a Stakes winner. At 6 times at this distance? Two wins and a second. Blinkers go back on here, and the barn wins with .18% with that angle, too. I’m in. I bet the 4-2 across the board and then box those two in the exactas. I will key the 4-2 over/under the 1-3-6-5-8 in two smaller units.

5th: 5-4-3/7/2-1/6…Dillsboro Devil (5) has not been out since last November, and that is a real concern — especially with a horse that figures to be the favorite and the fact that the barn operation only wins with .06% of those that have been away this long. Hmmm. But this one does drop in class and has speed to burn. Ran well coming off the bench last year and the rider is having a super meet. In three races here before? Two wins. Tough to toss. Rampage (4) may be the one to edge the top pick, though. this one ran huge last time out and in 12 starts here, this one has hit the board 6 times. Comes off a super effort in the slop. Look out. All Star Justice (3) won the last time out and has hit the board in the last three and six of the last seven. In that span, has a couple of wins, too. I like the rider, who is having a solid meet. I bet the 5-3 — take note– 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.

6th: 2-5-6/7/1-4-10/3…This is a grass event that will be contested at the 11/16-mile distance for the 3YOs & Up. I go with Imperial Mission (2), from the barn of Mike Maker. Trainer is having a tough meet, so far, winning with only 2 of 21. But this one drops considerably for this effort and does have 2 wins and 2 seconds in 6 starts here. Gets a top rider up and returns as a beaten favorite. Barn wins with .20% of those. Jay Vee Bee (5) has never won a grass race, and this could be a tough spot to snap that cycle. But the run two starts ago was solid and in three turf starts overall, he does have a second and a third. Will be coming late. Chance. Outlier (6) has been a money machine since being claimed four starts ago at Oaklawn Park. Won that day and came back and won the next time out, too. Has run two thirds since then. Will get the grass for the first time, and the barn wins with only .03% of those. But this one does have speed and if he converts to the sod? Look out. I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 7 in two smaller units.

7th: 9-7-1/5/2-6-8/3-4…Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes…This is the first of six straight Stakes races to close out the best day of racing at the track each year. This one will be contested at 1 mile & 70 yards for the 3YOs & Up. I go with Plainsman (9), from the barn of trainer Brad Cox, who is winning at a .23% rate here this meet after the first 35 starts. This one comes in off two wins in a row, including a Stakes triumph at Prairie Meadows. Won at Oaklawn Park before that, against some good ones. Looks solid right now and the rider is red hot of late. I’m all in here. Beau Luminaire (7) goes for a trainer who has 3 wins and 3 seconds in 10 starts here this meet. This one was 2nd here on June 21. Closed with a rush to just lose at the wire at odds-on favoritism. Barn wins with .24% when returning as a beaten fav. Gets Luis Saez up. Wow. Shared Sense (1) is a former Indiana Derby winner for the Cox barn and has won nearly $500,000 in the career. Prob will be the PT favorite, too. But? Has not started since last November and has needed a race off the bench in the past. If ready? Look out. I bet the 9-1 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 5 in two smaller units.

8th: 9-3/4-10/6/8-5-11/1-2…Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes…This is a turf Stakes going 11/16-miles for the 4YOs & Up. I saddle up with Midnight Team Time (9), who goes for a trainer who is a perfect 3-for-3 here this meet and one of the game’s top riders. Comes in off a better-than-looks 5th in a Stakes at Pimlico last time out. In 10 races at this distance? Only one win. Concern. But? Does have 4 seconds and 3 thirds to boost the confidence level. Split the Wickets (3) is my first “Longshot Special of the Day.” This 5YO comes in off a very nice 2nd last time out at Churchill Downs. Was no threat to our top pick the time before, but there’s an excuse. Hopped at the gate and lost all chance. New rider could propel this one to better results. I bet the 9-3 across the board and then box those two in the exactas. I will key the 9-3 over/under the 4-10-6 in two smaller units.

9th: 2-6-7/8/1-4/5-3…Mari Hulman George Memorial Stakes…Matera (2) is my pick here, and for very good reasons. Comes from the Cox barn and it has won with over .27% this year in 485 starts. Gets a rider who won on her last time out at Oaklawn Park in March. Works of late are spot on. Spot. On. Looks good right now. Spot. On. Saracosa (6) ran 5th in the G1 Spinster Stakes at KEE last October. Was 4th in the G1 La Troienne before that. Ran 2nd in the G2 Delaware Handicap last year. Tired in the only race this year, and must recover and rebound here. But? Back class is there for this one. High Regard (7) has raced 19 times on a fast dirt surface. Has a 4-2-2 mark on the resume and has won nearly $300,000 for the efforts. Will be coming late, but this one could factor at a nice price. I bet the 2-7 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 8 in two smaller units.

10th: 6-7-(13)/4-10/3-8/1-12/2-9…Indiana General Assembly Distaff Stakes…This is the last of the five grass races on the card and will be conducted at 11/16-miles. I will go with Raven’s Cry (6) in this spot. Ran very well over the slop in the last one, when rains forced the Stakes off the grass course. Before that, this one had won her first two starts in NA for a top training operation. Works of late are solid. Rider is the barn’s go-to. Serious threat. Summer in Saratoga (7) has had two pretty tough trips of late. But before that? Won the previous two. Came close with a rush and the rider will be hugging the rail and looking for racing room. If he finds it? Alnaseem (13) is my second “Longshot Special of the Day,” ion the 5YO Brit-bred gets in from the AE List. Won easily last time out after a huge effort against a top class filly, who came out of this win to capture a Stakes event at Churchill Downs in the next try. Look out here. This trainer didn’t come to the States to lose. Also? Another “Longshot Special of the Day” possible for me is Choate Bridge (4). This 5YO mare is listed at 20-1 in the ML, by Brisnet.com. I don’t care. I’m using. This one likes it a little more firm, and she should get that kind of footing on Wednesday. Rider is one of the best turf jockeys in the world, and the trainer is having a nice year, too. Threat. I bet the 6-13 across the board, if the #13 draws in. If not? I bet the 6-4 across the board. I will box the 6-7-13 in one set of exactas. I will box the 6-7-4 in another. And, I will box the 6-7-13-4-10 in the trifecta. Lastly, I will key the 6-7 over/under the 13-4-10-3-8 in two smaller units.

11th: 2-1/5-9-8-7/3/4-10/6-11…G3 Indiana Oaks…This is one of the best Stakes races for 3YO fillies in the world this year. Not joking. One of the best. I will give the edge to Soothsay (2), who ships in from the West Coast for HOF trainer Richard Mandella. Jockey Flavien Pratt journeys along for the ride, too. This 3YO daughter of Distorted Humor has two wins on the resume — one of which came earlier this year in the G2 Santa Anita Oaks. After that one, she was off until late May. Lost the G2 Summer Oaks to Crazy Beautiful, who is no slouch. If this one grabs onto this track surface? Look out. I mean look out. She is my “Key Play of the Day.” Will’s Secret (1) came with a rush to be third in both the G1 Ashland Stakes and the G1 Kentucky Oaks. Lots of credentials there. In 8 starts, has 3 wins. But 4 more thirds. I use under. I 

12th: 1/7/3-6/4/5-2…G3 Indiana Derby…My last “Key Play of the Day” is Fulsome (1) in the G3 Indiana Derby. This will be a true test for this 3YO son of Into Mischief, who has never been beaten over a dirt track surface. Not so much due to the level of competition. The field in the G3 Matt Winn last time out could have been tougher than the horses he will face here in this spot. But? There is precious little speed for this closer to run down and into; and, the distance of 11/16-miles will give jockey Florent Geroux no room for error. The one to beat, to be sure. Could be world class on the dirt. Could join roommates Mandaloun and Essential Quality in the biggest of the big league races later this year, too. But it may not come easy. Mr. Wireless (7) goes for one of the best unsung heroes and trainers in the game today. Barn wins a lot of races and has won with .18% of the 386 starters this year. In Graded Stakes company? The best of the best races? Barn has won with .21% of the last 70. Those are wow numbers. This son of Dialed In may dial it up early from the outside, too. Can they catch him? I bet the 1 to win/place. I will key the 1 over/under the 7-3-6-4 in two smaller units. And…I will hammer a 1-7 exacta box.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene