Updated: McLean’s Selections for Ellis Park on Saturday, Aug. 3

(Stats need to be updated from this week’s pick results)

Here’s our looks at the Saturday kick-start to a 3-day weekend of exciting live racing at the historic Ellis Park. Today’s card features 3 Stakes races and a host of other events that could turn into spine-tingling, finish-line covers, as well:

1st: 1-4/5-9/8-6-7…Maximum Promise (1) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at the former “Pea Patch” in West KY on this Saturday kick-start to a 3-day racing weekend. This 2YO colt has a race under the girth and ran a respectable 5th over the grass in the inaugural after a terrible start. Gets the barn’s go-to rider up for this occasion and shifts to the dirt, which he is better bred to suit. Barnm wins with .14% on the 2nd effort and he will run with blinkers this time, too. All could help. One to beat, IMO. Crystal Hill (4) will make the first start for a  barn that wins with .13% on debut in the MSW category. Gets the meet’s hottest rider up and the dam has produced one winner from three starters so far. Works are solid. Chance. I bet the 1 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 1-4 in the exactas. I will key the 1-4 over/under the 5-9-8-6-7 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 4-3-(13)/1-6-11/5-9-10/7…Sweet Seraphine (4) gets my first look here. This 2YO daughter of Quality Road comes from a winning Bernardini mare who has produced 3 winners from 5 starters. Will make the debut here for a  barn that has done a solid job all year, winning .17% of 224 starts in the toughest jurisdiction in this country. Rider is hot, too. Has gone 3-2-2 in the last 10 ups. Big shot. Evanescence (3) could get off at a price and is another firster who merits a strong look. Barn wins with .12% in the debut and the rider has had a very good meet here. Works are solid and the connections paid $250,00 for this daughter of Munnings last September. Adds up. I bet the 4 across the board and then box the 4-3-13 in the exactas. I will key the 4-3 over/under the 13-1-6-11 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 8-7/4-3/1/6-5/2…Rhyme Schemes (8) will make the 2024 debut for one of the  best young trainers in the game today. Barn has won with .14% of 136 starts this year and has gone 1-3-3 in 10 outs so far this meet. This 3YO son of Ghostzapper has run three times, with two wins. Both of those wins came by nearly 10 lengths. Each time. Gets Lasix for the first time and the barn wins with .22% when adding the anti-bleeder. Has a win over this track. If ready, and this guy knows how to get them ready, he may air this group. I’m all in here. I bet the 8 across the board and double down on the win wager. I box the 8-7 in the exactas. I will key the 8-7 over/under the 4-3-1 in two smaller units. 

4th: 4-9-7/11-1-6/3/10…Dazzlemesilver (4) was claimed just two starts ago by one of the best trainers and people in our sport today. Knows how to boost them, too. Ran super in the first try for the new barn — against much tougher. Comes back here with a new rider, who has done well for the barn, as well. Lots to like here. Lots. Al Ameeq (9) is 8-1 in the ML and could pop here with a big number. Has run two good ones in a row and picks up a hot rider again. Look for this one to push the pace button early and often. Must catch, if you can. I bet the 4-9 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 4-9 over/under the 7-11-1-6 in two smaller units. 

5th: 3-11-7/2/1-5/6-10…Decanted (3) could be a handful here over the Ellis Park sod. This one has run the distance over the sod 6 times with 3 marks on the board. One win. One second. One third. Drops in class here and should fit. Has plenty of speed and that has been a nice ingredient over this sod, so far. Will play a little “Come catch me, if you can,” with this group. Asmodeus (11) may catch a few bettors off guard. Trainer is very good, winning at a .20% rate this year after 181 starts. Horse has hit the board in the last 4 and 5 of the last 6. Needs to figure out how to stick the nose in front at the wire. But should be close at solid odds. new rider could help. Sharp work on July 27. I bet the 3-11 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 2 in two smaller units. 

6th: 1-11-12/3-6-7/9-10/2-4-8…Low Key (1) is another one I really like coming out of the Tom Amoss barn today. This 2YO is owned by the same chap that had Serengeti Empress. Remember that speedball who won the KY Oaks. This gal will be making the fist start. Sire wins with .16% with first time starters. Rail is golden this meet, too, producing .19% winners. Should like the sprint distance. Heart’s Compass (11) is another first timer and should be ready for a top conditioner, who wins with .12% making the debut. Work on July 27 was spot on and the rider is , too. Big shot here. Volatile Market (12) has race experience over the other two and ran a solid 2nd here on July 4. That was over a muddy track and she did tire late. Should benefit from that outing. I bet the 1-11 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 1-11 over/under the 12-3-6-7 in two smaller units. 

7th: 8-5/6/7/4-2…KY Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes…This is the first of 3 Stakes events today and the beginning of the prep for Kentucky Downs superior meet rapidly approaching in September. This event will be contested at the specialty distance of 5.5 furlongs and I go with the favorite — Ova Charged (8). This is a Louisiana-bred and normally I would never take one of these against open company. But? But this gal by Star Guitar is darn good. Has been this distance and over turf 5 times. Has won them all. Wont the G3 Unbridled Sydney at Churchill Downs in May. Won the Mardi Gras Stakes at the Fair Grounds in February. Darn good. This group has to catch her and then pass. Neither will be easy. Red Carpet Ready (5) has the best shot to upset this cart, if anyone can. The 4YO ran in two G1s in a row. Finished 3rd in one of them. Has a G3 win this year, too. Has the speed to challenge. Maybe? I bet the 5 — take note — to win/place/show and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 5 over/under the 8-6-7-4-2 in the exactas. Let’s hope for a bomb to run 2nd. $$$

8th: 8/2-7-5/1/6-3…KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby Purse Stakes…This Stakes will be contested at 11/8 miles and I will go with my first “Key Play of the Day” — Cameo Performance (8). This 3YO colt nearly won a G3 last time out over the AW up at Woodbine. Before that, was the beaten favorite in a grass Stakes at Churchill Downs. Could get back on the win streak here. The new rider is having a very solid meet and can boot. Like this one a lot. I bet the 8 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 8 over/under the 2-7-5-1-6-3 in the exactas. More with the 2-7-5 than the rest. 

9th: 4-6-9/3/2-7-1…KY Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes…The final Stakes event will be contested at the 1-mile distance and will feature a possible coming out party for Highway Robber (4). This one has won over $260,000 so far, but has always been just a stride short of more money and glory. The 4YO son of Hard Spun ran 2nd in a Stake here last year, just losing to the very talented Wadsworth at that time. Trainer is on a roll here, going 5-1-5 in the first 20 outs. Horse has a win and a 2nd here in two starts. I love this one. All in for me. I bet the 4 across the board and double/triple down on the win wager. I will box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 3 in two smaller units. I will also key the 4 over/under the 6-9-3-2-7-1 in two smaller units. 

10th: 2-4/7-6/5-9-3/1-8…The day’s finale is a 11/8-mile event for the MSW ranks, and I go with Bourbon Society (2). This 3YO gelded son of Bernardini has been knocking on heaven’s door and the winner’s circle gate for several races now. Has 3 runner-ups in 6 stats. Rider may be the perfect fit. Has speed to be dangerous and simply run the rest of these off their feet. I’m game here. I bet the 2 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 2-4 in one exacta, and then key the 2 over/under the 4-7-6-5-9-3 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene