McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Sunday, Sept. 17

(Stats to be updated after Churchill Downs’ cards on Friday and Saturday)

Here’s our looks at the Sunday Funday card at the big oval in Louis-Town on this first day of the week and last day of the weekend (does that make any sense?)…

1st 3-5/1-4/6/2…Like a Saltshaker (3) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at Churchill Downs on this Sunday Funday. The 5YO gelding could not be named any better, if you are still in the mood to honor and grieve for the loss of Jimmy Buffet. Goes for a top young trainer in our game today and returns as a beaten favorite. Barn wins with .37% of the last 95 to do that. Husband/Rider gets the mount for the barn. Has won with .19% of the last 27 for the outfit. Lots to build on here. I bet the 3 acres the board and then box the 3-5 in the exactas. I will key the 3-5 over/under the 1-4 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 8-1-7/6/5/3-4-10…Yuletied Gallop (8) drops into the MCL ranks for the first time here for a top trainer, who always spots his horses in great locations to win. This barn wins with .26% when making this class drop and comes in off a very nice work at Ellis Park on Sept. 7. Look out. I bet the 8 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 6 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 6/5-1/8-7/2-4//3…The first Key Play of the Day comes here with Todd Pletcher’s 3YO Into Mischief filly Mirabella (6). This one ran a huge one at Saratoga last time out and now picks up Kentucky’s best rider. Looks the best here, by a ton. I bet the 6 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 6 over/under the 5-1-8-7-2-4 in the exactas. More with the 5-1 than the rest. 

4th: 3-4-5/6/1//8/2-7…Invaluable (3) drops back into the claiming ranks here after some tough sledding of late. Did win three back — but that was at KEE in April. Does pick up the meet’s top rider and the barn wins with .24% in the claiming ranks. Nice. I bet the 3 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 6-1 in two smaller units. 

5th: 9-6-5/2/4//3-7-8…Shogun Be Fast (9) is a 2YO son of the great stallion Distorted Humor. Mare has produced 3 winners from the first 4 starers and the works have been spot on. Could be a pretty good day if your name is Tyler Gaffalione. I bet the 9 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 9-6-5 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 2-4 in two smaller units. 

6th: 5/1-7/2-4/3/6…The next Key Play of the Day comes here with Trident Hit (5). This 6YO son of Tiznow is probably worth the claiming price of $50,000 grand, too, event thought he is already a robust 6. Won just two starts ago before trying the Saratoga circuit. Failed in that experiment. But back here and back in familiar territory class wise, too. I bet the 5 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 5 over/under the 1-7-2-4-3 in the exactas. More with the 1-7 than the rest. 

7th: 1-6-2/4/8-9/5-10/3-7…I go to the rail in this 6-furlong sprint event for the 2YOs. Handsome Herb (1) nearly won the debut on Aug. 6 at Ellis Park. Did all the hard work before tiring late. New rider could assist the cause here. Dam of this one has produced 5 winners from the first 6 starters. Classy. I bet the 1 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 1-6-2 in the exactas. I will key those 3 numbers over/under the 4 in two smaller units. 

8th: 2-9-4/5-8/1-10/3//6…Parody (2) gets back to the races for the first time since February and this barn operator knows how to win off the bench. Has won with .18% of the last 84 to have similar vacations. Gets a top rider to sign on and this one has run against some top notch fillies in the past. New trainer is solid. Much more in touch with the game today than the previous one. I bet the 2 across the board and then box the 2-9-4 in the exactas. I will key the 2 over/under the 9-4-5-8-1-10-3 in two smaller units. 

9th: (13)-3-6/10-12/1-4-11/2-5-8-9-(15)…If Mischievous Angel (13) draws in from the AE List here, this gelded son of Into Mischief could be a real handful in this spot. Ran in the G2 Hall of Fame last time out in just the 2nd career start. High hopes. But must get some luck to make the gate here. Lincoln Highway (3) will pick up the pieces if the top number is left at the barn. This son of Quality Road has a win in only previous try here over the sod. Look out. I bet the 13 if he gets in. If not, I go right to the 3. Bet across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 13-3 over/under the 6-10-12-1-4-11-2 in two smaller units. 

10th: 11-10-8/(13)-2-1-7-4-9/5-12-(14)/6…The day’s finale is a 6.5-furlong sprint over the main track for the MCL level. Fashion King (11) is a son of City Light and probably worth the purchase here. Has a 2nd and a 3rd in the first 4 outs, but has some speed talent. Alilnalot (10) is a steed that I will definitely need in here, too. This son of Tapiture will run for the first time as a gelding and this trainer knows where the winner’s circle is located, too. I bet the 11-10 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over the 13, if it gets in. If not? I will key the 11-10 over/under the 8-2-1-7-4-9-5 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene