Final Version: McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Friday, June 10

(Stats are updated)

Here’s our looks for Friday at the “big oval” in Louisville, which appears to be another big day for the #6:

1st: 6-3/2-5-4/1…The #6 appears to be the “hot number” on the board today and we kick start the parade in the first and the ole’ lid-lifter. Tachlis (6) gets the nod for trainer “Rusty” Arnold, who is having a super meet after a very chilly beginning to the 2022 campaign. Has gone 7-2-6 here in 33 starts and this one looks to have a big shot with the significant drop in class. Barn wins with .33% of the last 33 to return as a beaten favorite, and with .11% when getting the shades for the first time. Love this rider choice. Sitting on go-go. Oaxaca (3) was claimed for $20,000 last time out when the 3YO Speightstown filly nearly won. Now, she is bumped up in class for a barn that wins with only .04% on the first effort after a purchase. Gets blinkers today and that could benefit this speedsters. Chance. I bet the 6 across the board and then box the 6-3 in the exactas. I will key the 6 over/under the 3-2-5-4-1 in two smaller units.

2nd: 6-1-(9)/5/3-7-(8)/4…This is the first turf race of the day and the second time I choose to go with a #6 in the program — American Hero (6). This 3YO son of Constitution goes for the barn of Brad Cox and comes into this one off a tougher race last time out. Ran better than looks against a winner who came right back to win the next time out, too. This one is out of a Stakes-winning dam, who has not thrown a turf winner yet. But the barn has gone .38% win with a horse that is coming off two sprints into a route race. Gingrich (1) could improve with the drop into the claiming ranks for the first time. Barn wins with .23% of the last 22 to do that. Gets a good grass rider for this occasion. Big shot here. I bet the 6-1 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 6-1 over/under the 5 in two smaller units.

3rd: 3/1-4-5/8-7-2/6…The first “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Empire of My Own (3) — a 2YO daughter of Classic Empire. This one ran very well on debut before tiring late. That duel should help the conditioning and the barn wins with .25% of those returning as a beaten favorite. And, this one was favored in a debut race. Gets a new rider who has gone .50% win rate for this barn this meet. I’m in. All in. I bet the 3 across the board and then key the 3 over/under the 1-4-5-8-7-2 in the exactas. More with the 1-4-5.

4th: 2-1/6-5/4/3…Amani’s Eagle (2) drops significantly for this affair and the barn wins with .20% of those trying to repeat in the claiming ranks. Won on the turf last time out and now must try the main course, but the apprentice jockey is having a very solid meet and this one has a 1-1-0 mark here in 4 previous tries. Barn wins with .30% when off this long. Medicine Tail (1) drops in class after a winning trip up to Cincy. This barn does better than the local record indicates. Can’t dismiss this one. I bet the 2-1 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 2-1 over/under the 6-5-4 in two smaller units. 

5th: 6-4/3-5/2/1/7…The next #6 comes here — third on the day — with Cami Cat (6). This 3YO daughter of Dialed In has a ton of speed and will make the first career start for the new trainer, who claimed this one out of the career debut effort. New barn wins with .18% on the first try and the rider has gone 2-2-0 in the last 7 for the main barn connection. Lantern’s Candy (4) drops into the claiming ranks where she was a little more useful two starts ago. Will be coming late for a handy operation, and the rider can find the winner’s circle too. Drop in class here should help. I bet the 6 across the board and then box the top 2 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 6-4 over/under the 3-5-2 in two smaller units.

6th: 7-5/8-2-6/1-4-9/3…Gulfport (7) gets the nod here for a HOF trainer. First timer comes from a dam who has 1 winner from 2 starters. Been working very well and the connections paid $275,000 for this son of Uncle Mo last year. Rider has won with only .03% of the first 29 mounts for the barn, though. Ugh. Easy Big Boy (5) is another consideration from the same barn. This one has run before and was 4th, despite being repeatedly bumped near the 5/16th pole in the inaugural run. A cleaner trip and this one could be right there. I bet the 7-5 across the board and then box those two in the exactas. I will key the 7-5 over/under the 8-2-6-1-4-9 in two smaller units.

7th: 9-5/2-8/3/1/4-6/7…Espionage (9) gets the nod here. This 4YO gelded son of Into Mischief won at Lone Star Park last time out and now must graduate to the big leagues. But this one is entered in a $16,000 claiming event and should fit with these types here. Trainer is having a rather chilly meet so far, winning at just a .10% rate. But this one may help the cause. Seau (5) ran well at this same level here on May 22. Was 2nd in that one and the barn has 3 runner-up finishes in the 3 starts here this meet. May be time to tap the winner’s circle. I bet the 9-5 across the board and then box those two in the exactas. I will key the 9-5 over/under the 2-8-3-1 in two smaller units.

8th: 6/5-1/7/2-4-8/3…The next “Key Play of the Day” comes here with another #6 — Sister Annie (6). This gal comes from the Brad Cox consignment and had an impressive win up at Horseshoe Indianapolis last time out. In 11 career starts now, this one has gone 3-2-4. Will pick up a new rider for the first time, but this guy should fit this front-runner just fine. Sharp work on June 4. Will be the one to catch, if they can. I bet the 6 across the board and then key the 6 over/under the 5-1-7-2-4-8 in the exactas. More with the 5-1-7 than the rest.

9th: 6-4/3-9/2-8/7-1/5…The final race of the day and, yet another, #6 to tout here. Weyburn (6) is a very classy 4YO son of Pioneerof the Nile, and has won over $443,000 in the career so far. Has run twice this year, with a Stakes win to start the 2022 campaign. Last race was solid, but he tired going the 2-turns for the first time this year. Drops out of the G2 back into allowance company here and that should benefit the trip and gets Lasix for the first time, too. This guy lost to Mandaloun last year by a neck. Talent. Class. One to beat. I bet the 6 across the board and then box the 6-4 in the exactas. I will key the 6 over/under the 4-3-9-2-8 in two smaller units.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene