Updated: McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Breeders’ Cup Friday, Nov. 5

(Gene & LA at the Breeders’ Cup Santa Anita)

Just one meager winner on the day at Churchill Downs on Thursday. And, that came in the first race. Losing streak since then.

Hope to turn the page and the corner today — first day of Breeders’ Cup 2021.

Here’s hoping.

And…

Here are my looks for Friday at Churchill Downs — which will add to the glamour at Del Mar and the opening of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup:

1st: 2-3-5/4-6/1…Prize Fighter (2) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at the big oval in Louisville on Breeders’ Cup Friday. This one ran a very nice 2nd in the career debut here on Oct. 3. Came with a nice run against a horse that came right back to win the next time out, too. Was claimed out of that affair for the $50,000, and now is in for $75,000. Barn wins with only .07% on the first try after the purchase, but does score with 1 of 3 in the second career start. Gets a consistent rider here and has the ability to score here. Babylon (3) ran third in that same race, and now will get the benefit of Lasix for the first time. Barn wins with .15% when adding the anti-bleeder for the first time. Ducked out at the start of the last one when breaking from the outside. Should be better here and not without a shot. I bet the 2-3 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exacta. 

2nd: 6-8/2-5/1/3-4-7…Pickford (6) gets the slight edge in a wide-wide-wide open affair at the $8,000 claiming level. Not a lot of great choices here, and this one does have 4 wins and 2 seconds in 8 previous runs over this track. Only 3 for 25 over a fast dirt track, but still this one has the back class to be tough against these. Drops in class to a career low level. Rider is solid. Ransack (8) is my first “Longshot Special of the Day.” This one comes in off an 3rd place finish up at Indy over a muddy track. Does not like that surface much. Is 0-for-10 here, but is 3-14 over a fast dirt surface. Underneath? Maybe? I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then box the 6-8 in the exactas. I will key the 6 over/under the numbers listed in two smaller units.

3rd: 6-3/2/1-4/5…Ginny B (6) gets the nod here and is my second straight “6” to grab top honors. This one ran poorly in the slop last time out. In 5 tries over a wet track, this one is 0-0-1 now. Hates the stuff. Two races back over a fast dirt surface? Nearly won against the same caliber as these. Look for a rebound effort here and a top rider take over the saddle duties. Look out. I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then box the 6-3 in the exactas. I will key the 6 over/under the numbers listed in two smaller versions.

4th: 3-6/2-5/1-4…Airborne Gal (3) is the 7-5 ML favorite, and it appears this 3YO daughter of Hard Spun should be a hard one to catch in this spot. Has won both of the career starts to date with fast starts and better finishes. Gets a top rider up here and the new barn operation wins with .16% in the 2nd start off the layup. Was claimed last time out and the new barn operation only wins with .08% on the first try after the purchase. But? This one looks salty here. I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then box the 3-6 in the exactas. I will key the 3 over/under the numbers listed in two smaller units.

5th: 8-6-2/3/7-5/4-1…Big Pete (8) will be making his 2nd start for the new barn operation after being moved prior to the last start. New trainer wins with .17% of these kind and is off to a tremendous start to this meet. Looks well-spotted here and the drop in class could help immensely. My solid choice. I bet the 8 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 8 over/under the numbers listed in two smaller units.

6th: 4-6/2-5-7/3-1…Moliere (4) comes from the barn of HOFer Steve Asmussen and this one could have easily won the last time out. Wheels back here after that September run over this track and could be a tough out in this spot. Will come from off the pace and will be making a late move here. Will need racing room and luck, but has the ability to score. Is 2-1-1 in 7 starts this year. But? 0-0-1 in 5 previous runs over this track. Hmmm. Mr. Quality (6) could take advantage here. Gets a fast track after the debacle in the 2021 debut at Indy Grand last time out over a sloppy oval. Works are good. Should improve. Gets a hot rider. In three career starts here? This one is 0-0-3. Hmmm. I bet the 4-6 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 4-6 over/under the 2-5-7-3-1 in two smaller units.

7th: 5-4/6-1/3/8-7…Freudian (5) could give the barn of Chris Hartman another big chance in this spot. This 2YO filly comes win off a near-miss 2nd last time out. Was claimed for $20,000 then and now moves up a spot or two in the claiming order. Barn wins with .20% when making the inch up and with .17% on the first try after the purchase. I like the way this one looks here. I bet the 5 to win/place/show and then box the 5-4 in the exactas. I will key the 5-4 over/under the rest of the numbers listed in two smaller units.

8th: 2/5-7-8-4-3/6-9/1…The first “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Brew Crew (2). This 4YO son of Blame goes for the barn of Greg Foley, who seemingly always has his horses looking and acting good. This one drops into the claiming ranks after faced the starter allowance and the straight allowance company in the last three outs. Has a win in two tries here. Has a 1-1-0 record in 2 starts at this distance. Rider has experience with this one, too. Love the last work. Look out. I bet the 2 across the board and then key the 2 over/under the numbers listed above. More with the 5-7-4-3 than the rest.

9th: 8-2-4/6/5-7/1-1A…Singita Dreams (8) nearly won here back in June and will be making the 2nd start since then in this spot. Goes for a top young man and trainer, who is having a solid year. This one is 1-2-2 in 8 previous tries here and the home-bred mare has earned nearly $200,000 in purses so far. Love the way this one comes in off the layup. Big shot. I bet the 8 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 8-2-4 over/under the 3 in two smaller units.

10th: 2-5-9/6-12-11/10-4/1-8…The finale of the day at Churchill Downs is a very nice MSW event for the 2YOs. I give a very small edge to Cyberknife (2), who won the career debut on the ground but was DQ’d for interference in the late stages of that one. Loses the blinkers after that, and has been working well for this effort. Barns wins with .34% that return as a beaten favorite and with .31% when losing the blinkers, too. Adds up for this son of Gun Runner. Classic Moment (5) ran huge in the career debut, too. Just nipped at the wire at KEE. Returns to find some more salty opponents in this spot. Should benefit from the first go-round. Worsds of Wisdom (9) is a first-timer owned by Godolphin and a son of the great Tapit. Working wonderful for the barn of Brad Cox, too. Can’t leave out. I can’t. I bet the 2-9 across the board — take note — and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 6-12 in two smaller units.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene