McLean’s Selections for KY Downs on Sunday, Aug. 31

(Stats to be updated)

Here’s our looks on this Sunday “Funday” at the hilly, if not billy, Kentucky Downs in little Franklin, KY. Come out. Bring a blanket. Have a picnic and enjoy some of the best racing that the entire world has to over today.

It is fun. It is a day. Thus? It’s Sunday Funday.

1st: 1-12/11/7-6-10/2…The ole’ lid-lifter is a 1-mile event over the grassy hills and dales of West Kentucky for the 2YO fillies who have never won a race — yet. Imminent Risk (1) leads my charge here and comes in with a 3rd at Saratoga for Kentucky Downs’ super jock — Jose Ortiz. With a better start — where she avoids hitting the starting gate — could help this cause a lot. Look out from the rail. Shidoni (12) could spice up the odds board here, as she is 15-1 in the ML. This one does not have a great grass pedigree. Frankie Dettori gets the mount and this one ships in from Lone Star for this one. Chance. I bet the 1 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will try a “soft” ticket across the board on the 12, as well. I box the 1-12 in the exactas and then key the 1-12 over/under the 11-7-6-10-2 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 7-11-1/5-6/2-9/4/3…Rule Seventy Six (7) is my “Upset Special of the Day.” This son of Nyquist ran well at Churchill Downs on June 28. Came with a late run to be 3rd and the runner-up in that affair came right back to win the next outing. Tyler Gaffalione gets the mount here and that will help the cause. Love the 10-1 ML odds. Love it. Abbi Fede (11) is 15-1 in the ML and worth a look here, too. Ran 2nd over the slop last time out and figures on numbers alone. But this one is by the sire Enticed. Not good. Just writing. Abuelo (1) comes up from Florida and has been in the mix late in each of the top 3. Sharp work on Aug. 22. Has a shot here. I bet the 7-1 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 5-6 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 9-(15)/(14)-11-4/3-8/1-6/5-(13)…Spirit Prince (9) is coming off a win in the last out and has hit the board in 8 of 11 on the grass, to date. Gets the best rider at Ky Downs and should be a clear winner in this one. Out of Deductions (15) is worth a look for Chris Block, who is a highly underrated trainer. But has to get lucky to make the gate. I bet the 9 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 9 over/under the 15-14-11-4-3-8 in the exactas. 

4th: 12-11/1-5-10/8-9-6-(13)/2-7…Auntie (12) is another long-shot possibility here. I can toss the last one. Rank going into the first turn and lost all shot. Ships in from California here and that’s my biggest question here. Love the trainer, who excels here, as well. Chance at 10-1 odds. Tickin Time Blonde (11) is 20-1 in the ML. Has only one 2nd in 5 grass starts, but this daughter of Not This Time. Will be coming late only. Can she get up in time? Maybe? May be. I bet the 12 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 12-11 in a small exacta and then key the 12-11 over/under the 1-5-10-8 in two smaller units. 

5th: 10-3/(13)-11/6-(14)-(15)/9…Warlander (10) is another longer priced prospect that we like. This one is 10-1 in the ML odds. Will get the blinkers for the first time and the barn wins with .16% of the last 159 to get the shades. Goes for the home team here, as this one is owned by the owner of the KY Downs, too. Gets Jose Ortiz. If this one can pull the same race as two back? Look out. Tracking Error (3) is trained by the State’s best grass trainer. Has hit the board in 6 of 7 starts, but gets the sod for the first time. This barn wins with .25% of those. I bet the 10-3 across the board and then box them in the exactas. I key the 10-3 over/under the 13-11-6-14-15-9 in two smaller units. 

6th: 1-5-(15)/4-3-2-10/6-7-9-11…Password (1) gets a strong recommendation from me here. This one has run 3 times and has hit the board in each. Will move to the sod for this try at the MSW conditioning the barn wins with .30% when going a route for the 2nd time. Love the breeding on this one and the dam has 2 winners from 6 starters. Zero grass winners, though. Eva Ready (5) is another from the barn of Chad Brown, who is shipping in some for this big-purse meet. Should love the sod in this first career start. If Hardtoblame (15) gets in, take a look. Love this breeding best and goes for a HOF trainer. I bet the 1 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will also do the same with the 15, if he gets in. I box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I key the 1 over/under the 4-3-2-10-6-7 in two smaller. 

7th: 8-11/7-4/(13)-3-1/10-5-12…Run Curtis Run (8) comes in off a win and this NY-bred looks like he should be able to hold his own in this open company event. Has hit the board in four straight . In 22 grass starts, he has hit the board 15 times. Gets Gaffalione and must use for me. Let My People Go (11) weakened in the last one, but that was a G2 event. Back to others that are similar ability here and will move up. Gets Ortiz. I bet the 8-11 across the board and then box these two sternly in the exactas. I will key the 8-11 over/under the 7-4-13 in two smaller units. 

8th: 10-9-2/8-(14)-(16)/6-5-1…Maiora (10) could pull the upset here at 6-1 ML odds. Love this daughter of Speightstown. Daughter of a Tapit mare, too. Two nice 2nds in a row to start the career. Gets Dettori up and may motor past these. Like this one. A lot. Love a Little Mo (9) is a daughter of Uncle Mo and out of a Stakes-winning mare. Ran huge at Ellis Park last out. A little improvement would move this one into the circle. Beach Ballad (2) ran a big one at Saratoga last out. Must use. I bet the 10 across the board and double down on the win wager. I even triple down. I bet the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 8-14 in two smaller, as well.

9th: 7-8-2/3-1-6/10-4…Juvenile Sprint Stakes…The first Stakes event of the day and I line up with Longshoreman (7). This son of Twirling Candy looks super impressive after the first two starts for a trainer who excels with these types. Rider is one of the trainer’s favs and has won with just 9% of the last 11 for the barn, though. Obliteration (8) has run in two straight Stakes and done very well. Ran off to win by 10 in one of those. Will move to the sod for the first time here, though. Dam has a turf winner. If the conversion works. Winner. Johnny’s Red Storm (2) is a must use of me. Trainer is damn good and the horse won by 4 in a breeze effort at Saratoga on debut. I bet the 7-8 across the board and double down on the 8 — take note — in the win wager. I box the top 3 numbers solidly in the exactas. 

10th: 9-7-11/5-8/3-(14)/10-6-4-(13)…This is a very strong handicap event, which allows for the use of Lasix with these Stakes types. I go with Gigante (9), the Virginia-bred, here. Is 8-1 in the ML and should be a contender late. Don’t really prefer the rider choice, but he is the trainer’s son. In 21 turf tries so far, he has hit the  board 10 times and has won over $1 million over the sod. Chasing the Crown (7) is one of the favs and ran huge in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in Jan. But has not been out since. Barn does OK off the bench. Must use. Must. I bet the 9-7 across the board and double down on the 7 in the win wager. I box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I key the top 3 over (only) the 5-8. 

11th: 6-7-1/2-9-3/8/10…Juvenile Fillies Stakes…Meringue (6) has run two solid races to start the career and was right there in the G3 Adirondack over the main track. Back to sod here and should relish the surface switch. My bet goes here. Soloist (7) has a shot, too. Won on debut and this trainer rarely cranks up for the first go. Take a look at this well-bred gal. Loveliest (1) won by 5 on first ask and should be a tough out with a closing rally. Love this one, who is out of an Irish-bred mare. I bet the 6 across the board and double down on the win wager. I box the top 3 in the exactas, and then key the 6-7 over/under the 1-2-9-3 in two smaller units.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene