Final Version: McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Saturday, June 25

Stats Now Completely Updated

Here’s our looks for Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st: 7/6-9-4-2/1/3-8…The first “Key Play of the Day” comes in the ole’ lid-lifter at the “big oval” in Louisville and with Sweet Beauty (7). This 3YO daughter of Maclean’s Music goes for a HOF trainer who has had a rather pedestrian-like meet this summer. Winning at just a .14% rate, which is several clicks below his normal fare. This one ran OK at the $30,000 claiming tag and now drops to a career-low price tag. New rider up and this one could be coming late. Against this group? Looks the best to me. I bet the 7 across the board and then key the 7 over/under the 6-9-4-2-1 in the exactas. More with the 6-9 than the rest.

2nd: 6-4-7/1-3/2-5…Key of Life (6) is a first-time starter from the barn of Brad Cox, who is romping and rolling like usual. Has won with .31% of his first 62 starts and this one has been working well for the debut effort. Look at the move on June 8 at KEE. Wow time there, even though that strip is amazingly fast or the clockers are quick with the finger. Jockey has gone 3-2-3 in the last 10 for this barn and the dam of this filly has 3 winners from the first 3 starters. In. Topsy (4) is another from the Asmussen barn and warrants a look here, too. Firster has a super sharp work at Ellis Park and gets a top rider for the services. Threat. Watch This Munny (7) is another Asmussen in here and this one is stabled here, rather than at Ellis. Interesting note. Works are OK. Good gate rider. Chance from the outside. I bet the 6 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 6 over/under the 4-7-1-3 in two smaller units.

3rd: 6-1/4-5/2/3…Sonic City (6) was claimed last time out for the $10,000 tag and now shows back up at the same price level. Loses the condition for “2-lifetime,” but he did win that one by 6. Looks ready to take on tougher here and the works since the purchase are promising. In. Spheroid (1) nearly won last time out at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Has run here 6 times. Has a win and a third. But at the distance? Zero-for-6. Hmmm. I bet the 6 across the board and then key the 6 over/under the numbers listed in the exactas. More with the 1-4-5 than the rest.

4th: 9-8/6/2/1/4/3-5-7…Yes Sir Robert (9) was claimed just two starts ago for $20,000 and now shows up here for $10,000. Need a bigger truck? Trainer is having an OK meet and this one should fit nicely here. Top rider up. Has a 2-0-2 mark in 7 starts here. Trainer is .41% winner in the 2nd start off the claim — and that is with a sample size of 17. In. I bet the 9 across the board and then box the 9-8 in the exactas. I will key the 9 over/under the 8-6-2-1-4 in two smaller units.

5th: 4/3/7-1/2/6/5…The next “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Fulsome (4), in an allowance event that could easily double as a Stakes race. This 4YO son of Into Mischief is closing in on $1 million in earnings and is coming off a string of 6 straight Graded Stakes events. Needs some early pace to run into, but if he gets it? Look out. Will close with the best of them. Look at the race two back. Nice. I bet the 4 across the board and then key the 4 over/under the 3-7-1-2 in the exactas. More with the 3 than the rest.

6th: 5-6-1/2/3/4-8/7-9…Bombdiggity (5) gets the nod in this tilt. This 3YO daughter of Into Mischief cost $600,000 to purchase at the 2020 KEE September Yearling Sale and in the first four career starts, she has already recouped $108,000+ of that investment. More to do, but could add to the coffers here. Won here last time out on the lead. Loses that condition and will face tougher, but fits well here. Love of My Heart (6) could be the first “Upset Special of the Day.” This 5YO mare has not been out since early May, but the barn wins with .23% of the last 53 to be “away” this long. Has hit the board in each of thee last 4 outings. Can come from behind and gets an aggressive late rider back atop for the saddle job. Short Summer Dress (1) drops into the claiming ranks here after being nabbed two starts ago. Could press the top pick in this spot and make both of them vunerable for a late run. Just a thought. I bet the 5-6 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 5-6 over/under the 1-2-3-4-8 in two smaller units.

7th: 6-2/5-3/9-1-4/8-7…Veritable (6) is one of two first timers for the barn of Cherie DeVaux that have a shot in this spot. This 3YO colt has been training lights out at KEE and gets a top, top rider up. Look out here. Could be gone, gone, gone. The stablemate, Sunday Breeze (2), could be the top competition. Has been working top numbers, too. I bet the 6-2 across the board and then box these two in the exactas.  I will key the 6-2 over/under the 5-3-9-1-4 in two smaller units.

8th: 7-5/1/3-4-8-9/2-6…Get Her Number (7) will make the first start since the embattled Peter Miller has returned to training and for the first time since running in the G2 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita on May 29. Was 3rd in that one as a longshot. Won three starts ago on the sod. Looks like this one could fit here with a new rider up. Gun It (5) has run here 8 times in the past. Has only 1 win. But does have 3 seconds and a third and may find the “underneath” part of the exactas, again. New rider is very interesting. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the 7-5 in the exactas. I will key the 7-5 over/under the 1-3-4-8-9 in two smaller units.

9th: 7-1-4/3/2-6/5…G3 Chicago Stakes…What a wonderful Stakes event that will feature some very fine filly and mare sprinters. I will go with the beautiful mare Sconsin (7) on top. She has won 5 times in 8 starts here, with another 2 seconds on the resume. That is getting it done. But? Vunerable because she is just 1-2-1 at this 7-furlong distance. That is concerning. But this 5YO mare ran huge to win the G3 Winning Colors off the bench last time out and should improve for the barn of Greg Foley here. I’m in. Bayerness (1) could upset this group, with a clean trip. Gets a rider who has won two in a row with her and has won with 3 of the last 4 times he has been on her back. Take note. That is serious riding connection. Has a win and two thirds in 3 tries at this distance, and has won 3 of 5 here. I’m using this one, too. Bell’s the One (4) is beautiful and has won over $1.6 million in a brilliant career. She has won on AW. She has won on turf. She has won on fast dirt. She has done well here and she has done OK at this distance. She will be coming late, and needs a clean trip from a rider who can find the rail and can find trouble with the best of them. I bet the 7-1 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will box the 7-1 again. 

10th: 3-4-7/1-10/2-11-8/6/5-9…Favorite Outlaw (3) has run two good ones for the HOF barn operation and looks like he can develop into a good one. Has been off since late January, but the barn can win off the bench. Training sessions are OK. Talent alone stands out here. Top of the Charts (4) should be fitter and ready to fire. Won the debut for an under-appreciated trainer, who is having a superb meet here. Has won with .29% of the first 28 starts. Wow numbers. Angkor (7) could spice up the odds rack a bit here. Has run two very good races in a row to end the 2021 year and start the 2022 campaign. If he does not bounce here? Look out. I bet the 4 across the board — take note — and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 1-10 in two smaller units.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene