Final Version: McLean’s Selections for Churhcill Downs on Wednesday, Sept. 28

We will kick start another week at the great racing oval in Louisville on this Wednesday. Nice card. Solid races. Good options. Bets to cash, if we can pick the right ones.

Here’s for trying, and our looks at the “Hump Day” card:

1st: 7-3/6/4/1-2-5…We celebrate “Hump Day” with what we hope will become a “Lump Day.” A large lump of greenbacks to make the ole’ back hurt just a bit to carry along. We kick off the ole’ lid-lifter with our top pick — Please Be Kind (7). This one is a heavy ML favorite in the Brisnet.com rating system, and it is easy to see why in this $75,000 MCL event. This one drops into the claiming ranks for the first time and the barn wins with .31% of the last 16 to do that. Goes from a route to a sprint distance, too, and the cut back has been kind to this trainer, too, winning at a .23% in the last 13. When dropping from MSW to MCL? Wins with .35%. Gets a super hot rider for this effort and the work on Sept. 14 was spot on. Lots to like here. Somebody Loves Me (3) could make the top pick work for this one, though. This 3YO daughter of More Than Ready comes off a solid effort at Ellis Park last time out. Drops into the MCL ranks for the first time since running 3rd here in May. Returns as a beaten favorite, and this barn wins with .26% of the last 99 to come forward. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the 7-3 in the exactas. I will key the 7-3 over/under the 6 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 4-6-1A/1-5/3/2…Icarus (4) is a 3YO gelded son of Arrogate, and this one will make the first start for the new barn after being claimed at Saratoga last time out. Ran very well there, but must move over the dirt here. New trainer is having a nice meet and wins with .20% off the last 143 to make this surface switch. Work on Sept. 23 was solid. But? Never been on a fast dirt surface. Deep State (6) goes for a very under-rated barn operation, which is 2-1-0 in the first 4 starts here this meet. Picks up a rider who has gone 4-1-2 in just 11 mounts here, too. That equates to a win % of .36%. Nice. Last time on dirt, this one found a sloppy track at Ellis Park. Still, he won that try. Lots to like here, too. Centurion (1A) looks to be a bit better of the duo in this entry. I bet the 4-6 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. 

3rd: 1-2-3/4-5/7-6…Wide open affair here in this MSW event for the boys. I go with Princely (1) on top. This one came running with a serious blow in the late stages of the debut run here on Sept. 15. Picks up a new rider for this journey and the jockey has won with .21% of the last 48 for this barn operation. Looks solid, if he can get off to a better beginning — which is a must at this 1-mile distance from the chute. All in the start here. Wicked Secret (2) is another closer, who needs to get a better beginning in order to run better. Could get pushed towards the rail here, too. Runner-up in the debut came right back to win the next outing and this one may love the added distance here. Rider has gone 3-1-1 in the last 10 starts and picks this one over the rail horse. Hmmm. Let Me Love You (3) is another from the barn of Kenny McPeek, who has gone 5-4-4 in the first 29 starts this meet. Lots of board activity. May improve with the conversion to the dirt here and a new rider takes the reins. I bet the 1-2 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 4-5 in two smaller units. 

4th: 9-6-1/4/3-5-8/2-7…Trainer Please (9) is another ML favorite and this one should be a tough out, if he can convert the same ability from the turf over to the main track. Son of Orb should be able. Ran OK over the dirt in CA last year. Gets a veteran to help the process. Look out here. Frisco Line (6) was claimed last time out and will make the barn debut for a hot trainer, who has won with .22% of 109 starts this year. Gets a new rider, who is not the husband of the barn operator. Works at Hawthorne have been spot on. Looks dangerous in this spot. Barn wins with .34% on first start after a claim purchase. Atras (1) drops from the high-end allowance ranks to the $20,000 price tag here. That should elevate this one’s game. Will go back to the dirt, too, and that could help, as well. Barn’s go-to rider takes the mount. Look for this one to find a new barn after this one. Big shot. I bet the 9-1 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 4 in two smaller units.

5th: 1-4/6/7/5-3/2…Awesome Indra (1) will move to a new barn operator here after a couple of misfires of late. Should find the company here a tad easier and the work on Sept. 18 looks promising. Gets a hot rider in the bike and should fit here nicely with a ton of speed. If the rider can make the front and conserve a bit of energy? Look out. Absolute Love (4) is the ML favorite and is coming off a 15-length win here on June 29. Nice. Has won two in a row now and hit the board in the last 4. Has 5 wins in 16 starts here, too. Loves this track. Rut ro. Dangerous. I bet the 4 — take note — across the board and then box the 1-4 in the exactas. Sternly. Stern. Ly. I will key the top 2 numbers over/under the 6-7 in two smaller units.

6th: 2-3-5/7-1/6/4…Wayakin (2) is a 4YO son of Into Mischief and a colt who seems to have a world of talent. Hasn’t always flashed it, but when it does? Tough. Look at the race here on June 19. Whirlwind. Drops in class here and probably will be snapped up in the claiming box. Gets a good gate rider here and that should help put this one on the muscle early. I like. Supremacy (3) is the ML favorite and goes for the Cox barn, which has gone 6-6-3 in the first 24 starts here this meet. Nice numbers. This one nearly won here in June and has a ton of speed to flash early and often. Can’t dismiss. Ournationonparade (5) was claimed just two starts ago and easily won the first outing for the new connections up at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Will face some tougher ones here, but this one has the ability to be in a picture at the wire. I bet the 2-3 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 7-1 in two smaller units. 

7th: 1-7/5-10/2-6/4-3-8-9…Bonanza Grade (1) gets the call here. This 2YO daughter of Mineshaft looked like a winner until the final stages of the debut effort at Ellis Park in July. Winner that day? Came back to win a Stakes at the “Pea Patch” a little later in the meet in impressive fashion. If this one can improve just a tad? Watch out. Job’s Not Finished (7) is a first timer for the Cox barn and this the pedigree to be super tough. Daughter of KY Derby winner Nyquist and the dam has tossed two winners from the first 3 starters. Nice works leading into this one, too. Could be a good one. I bet the 1 across the board and then box the 1-7 in the exactas. Sternly. Stern. Ly. I will key the 1-7 over/under the 5-10-2-6 in two smaller units. 

8th: 2/3-5-1A-7/1/6//4…The first “Key Play of the Day” will come here with West Will Power (2). This 5YO son of Bernardini nearly won a Stakes at Ellis Park last time out and in the 2022 debut. That was off a 11-month layoff. Works since have been impressive. Gets a top rider for this occasion, and the jockey is 6-7-3 in the first 30 ups this meet. Lots to like here. Any improvement off the first 2022 start? Long gone. I bet the 2 across the board and then double down on the win bet. I will key the 2 over/under the 3-5-1A-7-1-6 in the exactas. More with the 3-5-1A-7. 

9th: 7-3/4-11/2/1-5-9/8-(13)/10-12-(14)…Slicked Back (7) gets the nod in the finale. This 4YO gelding will have to convert from the turf to the dirt, but the barn wins with .30% of the last 209 to make this surface switch. Could improve at this shorter distance and the barn wins with .27% when offered up for a claiming tag, too. Barn’s go-to rider takes the reins. Look out. Ice Blast (3) drops from a turf Stakes event at KY Downs to the claiming ranks here. Goes to the dirt, as well. Barn wins with .20% of the last 608 to switch to the main track. Picks up a solid rider, who is back in the good graces of this barn operation. They have gone .22% winners over the last 18 together. I bet the 7-3 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 7-3 over/under the 4-11-2 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene