McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Sunday, May 21

(Stats After the Preakness Stakes & Now Completely Updated)

Here’s our looks at the big oval in Louis-Town on this Sunday “Fun Day” of activities:

1st: 7-2/1-4/5/6/3…Texas Ted (7) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at Churchill Downs this Sunday. The 3YO gelding is coming off a nice 2nd here on April 29 at this same level. Nearly won that one. Same effort may render a better result. Supercool (2) goes for the barn of Greg Foley, who wins with .21% of the last 29 to go into the MCL ranks for the first time. Chance here. I bet the 7 across the board and double down on the win wager. I box the 7-2 in the exactas. I will key the 7-2 over/under the 1-4-5 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 5-1-6/2/3/4…Comedy Act (5) nearly won the last time out at Oaklawn Park and certainly fits with this group her. Veteran rider is holding his own this meet, in a deep riding community. Barn wins with .14% when going into he claiming ranks for the first time. Has a win over this strip, too. Precursory (1) drops into the claiming ranks and goes from turf to dirt. Both should help this one. Has a 1-1-1 mark in 4 dirt tries previously. Story Hour (6) drops in class, as well. Barn wins with .21% in the claiming ranks. Has a win in two previous tries here. I bet the 5 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 2-3 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 5-6-1/2/3//4…Rider’s Special (5) goes for a barn that wins with .23% of the last 134 to go from a sprint to a route and now back to a sprint. Picks up a huge rider swap for this one and will make the 3rd start off the layoff. Barn wins with .16% of those. Like. Insolito (6) broke the MCL last time out at KEE and now will face winners for the first time. Barn wins with .15% when moving up. Speed rider joins the team here. Classy Socks (1) is an Arkansas-bred and has done most of his previous runs against other state-bred, only. Will have to pick it up, but seems to have some talent. I bet the 5 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over (only) the 2 in a smaller unit. 

4th: 6-8/1-2-7//4-5//3…With Purpose (6) is the ML favorite, and figures to be the fan’s choice, too. This one has not run since February and now is being offered up for $10,000. Warning flag is up. But this one gets the meet’s top rider and the work on May 10 was strong. Must use for me. King of Kentucky (8) drops from the MSW ranks into the MCL level for the first time and plummets significantly here. Barn wins with .19% when going into the MCL ranks for the first time. I bet the 6 across the board and then box the 6-8 in the exactas. I will key the 6-8 over/under the 1-2-7 in two smaller units. 

5th: 8/1-7/6-4-3/2/5…The first “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Town Branch (8). This one drops another rung on the claiming tree, but does have a 2nd and a 3rd in 3 previous tries here. Barn is a bit cool for this meet, and this may turn the burner up a bit. Barn does win with .28% of the last 347 to run in claiming races. Nice numbers. I bet the 8 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 8 over/under the 1-7-6-4-3 in the exactas. More with the 1-7 than the rest.

6th: 8/3-4/1/6/2/5-7…The second “Key Play of the Day”comes in back-to-back races and with another #8. This time the name is Fast as Flight (8). The trainer is highly underrated and is having a nice meet here and another solid year. This one nearly won over the sod last time out at KEE. Has speed. Can go or stalk. Gets a huge rider to take the reins here. I love this one. I bet the 8 across the board and double/triple down on the win wager. I will key the 8 over/under the 3-4-1-6-2 in the exactas. More with the 3-4 than the rest. 

7th: 4-2-5/6-3/7/1-8…Cuore Sacro (4) is another from the barn of Brian Lynch and this one looks like he could be a good one. Has not started since last August, and the barn does win with .18% of the last 88 to come off the bench. Gets Lasix for the first time and looks to have some speed characteristics. Look out here. Wild Thinker (2) has hit the board in each of the first two career starts and looks primed for this one with a top rider aboard. Jockey has won with .22% of the first 82 starters this meet. Briterdayzahead (5) will get the blinkers off today and the barn wins with .23% of the last 75 to lose the shades. Gets a top rider up and this one looks primed and poised, too. May improve at this shorter distance. I bet the 4 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over (only) the 6-3 in a smaller unit. 

8th: 5-6-1/7-8/9-2/3//4…Blue Light (5) is my “Upset Special of the Day.” This 3YO City of Light colt comes in off two super nice runs to begin the career. Doubt we can get the 10-1 ML odds, but that is a nice thought. Top rider up. Work on May 17 is solid. Wow. Love to see this one sitting at double digits at PT. Favorite Outlaw (6) has a shot here, too, and my favorite one is Erica Outlaw — who runs the Louisville Thoroughbred Society with great skill and care. Just a BTW. This one has run 3 runner-ups in a row and 4 in the last 5 outs. Maybe a first is coming soon? I’ve got him 2nd. Of course. Page One (1) cannot be dismissed. Trainer is top notch and this one just ran 2nd by a nose at KEE. Big shot here. I bet the 5-1 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 7-8 in two smaller units. 

9th: 7-(15)-12/2-(17)/8-(14)/1-5-9-6-11/4/(13)-(16)…The finale is a 11/16-mile test over the sod for the MSW company and it could be a wide open affair. I will give the leading role to Caroom (7). This one has hit the board in each of the last 3 outings and nearly won the last two. Will be coming very late in the proceedings and will need some racing luck. St. Neots (12) has a shot here, too. Another closer will get the services of a top rider and this is a huge jockey switch. Must consider, for me. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 7 over/under the 15-12-2-17-8-14-1-5 in two more units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene