McLean’s Selections for Ellis Park on Saturday, Aug. 26

(Stats to be updated with picks from earlier this week)

Here’s our looks at the ole’ “Pea Patch” on this hot, humid, heated and exhilarating (if you are in an ice box or have serious air conditioning) Saturday:

1st: 7-3-6/4-2…The Princess Says (7) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at the ole’ “Pea Patch” on this sizzling Saturday in late August. Watch out peas. May be soup time, soon. This 3YO Collected filly comes in off a nice 3rd against much, much tougher last time out here on July 31. May improve with the shorter distance here and the rider has gone 2 wins in the last 4 leg-ups for this barn operation. Trainer is having another solid year, as well. One to beat, IMO. Mended We Stand (3) faltered in the last outing. Seriously. Now drops into the claiming ranks for the first time and does return to the sod, which she seems to prefer. Trainer wins with .231% when going into the MCL ranks for the first time, and that is with a sample size of 37. Chance. Ratified (6) goes for a barn operation which has won with .24% of the first 17 starters this meet. Drops considerably for this try and picks up the meet’s top rider, who is winning at a .23% rate. That number, though, is aided by a lot of starts for leading trainer Brad Cox, too. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 4-2 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 1-7-8/9-6/3-4/2-5…This is a 6-furlong test for the MSW company of 2YO fillies. I saddle up with Musical Diva (1), who will be lead over by the team of Brad Cox. Barn winning at a .34% rate after 53 starts this meet. Nice. This one ran 3rd on de but, but no chance at the wire as the PT favorite. Barn wins with .31% of the last 374 to return as a beaten fan’s choice. Novara (7) is a first timer for a top barn producer, too, and comes from the breeding program of Godolphin Stables. Sharp work on Aug. 18 and the dam of this one has a winner from 2 starters and a Stakes winner, already. Nice one. Must include, for me. Campus Kitten (8) had a very sharp work on Aug. 20 and the dam has produced a winner from 3 starters. Trainer has gone 5-1-3 in 11 starts this meet. Wow numbers. Wow. I bet the 1-7 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 1-7 over/under the 8-9-6 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 3-1/4-2/5/7/6…Sinner’s Sin (3) won here on July 7 by over 6 lengths and now moves up to face tougher. But the barn is doing well and the rider is the top at the meet. Jockey has gone 8-03-5 in the last 23 ups. Sharp work on Aug. 20 here. Looks ready. Captain Jack (1) has run two good ones in a row, but has not been out since April. Trainer can win off the break, but must be razor to beat the top pick here, IMO. I bet the 3 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 3-1 in the exactas. I will key the 3 over/under the 1-4-2-5-7-6 in two smaller units. 

4th: 1/3-5-8/6//2-4…Upset Alert … Upset Alert…The top horse here — based on my speed figures and numbers — is the railbird — Ian Glass (1). This 7YO veteran has run over the sod 36 times in the career. Has gone 7-6-8 in those tries and has earned over $304,000 on the grass. At this distance, though? Has gone 0-3-1 in 10 starts. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. So? I look and hunt; peck and pick. I am going with an upset and with Lookin for Loki (5). This 5YO gelded son of Into Mischief ran 8th last time out on May 16. Ugh. But? Has gone 5-2-0 in 12 starts at this specialty distance and goes for highly rated claiming trainer. So? My pick. I bet the 5 — take note — to win/place/show and double down on the win wager. I will box the 1-3-5-8 in the exactas. I will also key the 5 over/under the 1-3-8-6 in two smaller units. 

5th: 8-10/2-4-9/6-3/5-7/1…L.A. Woman (8) is a first timer for the barn of Brad Cox and, per usual, picks up the meet’s hottest rider. Dam of this one has 7 winners from 9 starters and a Stakes winner. Bred well for the route distance and the barn wins with a whopping .24% of the last 96 to go a route on first ask. Sire is a top young stallion and the dam is a Stakes winner. Lots to like here. Lots. But most of all? My beautiful wife is named Leigh Ann. Or? L.A. I have to go here, right. I bet the 8 across the board and double/triple down on the win wager. I will box the 8-10 in the exactas. And, I will key the 8 over/under the 10-2-4-9-6-3 in two smaller units. 

6th: 7-8/6-9/2/3-4/1-5…This is a 11/16-mile event scheduled for the sod and I give the edge to Little Gia (7). Trainer has gone 2-2-0 in 7 starts here this meet and has won with .17% with 48 starts this year. This one nearly won at this same level last time out and figures to be a tough out over the sod. I like. A lot. I bet the 7 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 7-8 in the exactas. And, I will key the 7 over/under the 8-6-9-2-3-4 in two smaller units. 

7th: 1-4/7-3-2/10-9/6/8/5…Rivalry (1) is another from the barn of Brad Cox and this 4YO colt will be making the 2nd career start after nearly winning the debut here in late July. A 4YO making the career debut for Cox in late July. HMMM. Must have some talent. Some real talent. Son of Uncle Mo comes from a dam who has produced 4 winners from 5 starters. I go here. Hunch. I bet the 1 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 1-4 in the exactas. I will key the 1 over/under the 4-7-3-2-10-9 in the exactas. 

8th: 8-2-5/1-7/6-4//3…Pistol (8) gets a slight edge in a  well-balanced field. Will make the 2nd start of the layoff and gets a new rider, who has some experience with this one in the past. Has 2 runner-ups in 2 starts here. Story Hour (2) won the last time out and now has a record of 2-1-1 in 9 starts. Chance. I bet the 8-2 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 8-2 over/under the 5-1-7-6-4 in two smaller units. 

9th: 7-6/2-1/5/4-9-10//3…The final event of the day is a turf event going a mile and I line up with Havildar (7). Juddmonte Farm homebred has run two solid races to begin the career and the 3YO son of Arrogate looks like he has talent. Work here on Aug. 20 looks good. My pick. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the 7-6 in the exactas. I will key the 7-6 over/under the 2-1-5-4-9-10 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene