McLean’s Selections for Ellis Park on Saturday, July 9

(Statistics will be updated after Friday’s card is completed)

Here’s our looks at the “Pea Patch” this first Saturday of the steamy Summer Meet:

1st: 5-2/1-4/3…This is a wide, wide, wide open affair to start the Saturday program at the ole’ “Pea Patch” in little Henderson, KY. I will give a small edge to Lake Tahoe (5) in this lid-lifter. The 3YO gray son of Oxbow was purchased for $52,000 a year ago. Now, he will be offered up for $16,000 at the claiming window. Comes in off a win over the slop at Churchill Downs last time out. Won easily in that one on May 26. Been off since, but defeated our #2 pick in that same race. If he returns to the gate like he left it? Should be a handful in this group. East of India (2) won the last time out for $20,000 and now is offered up for $16,000 as he drops in to face winners for the first time. Just two starts ago, lost to our top pick. But that was for a different barn operation. New connections are winning at a .20% rate after 76 starts this year. May have found the “key” to this one. I bet the 5 across the board and then box the 5-2 in the exactas. I will key the 5-2 over/under the 1-4-3 in two smaller units.

2nd: 12-1/2-7-11/5-8/3/4-9…This is a grass tilt going the speciality distance of just 5.5 furlongs. I give the edge to the far outside and Pontiffany (12). This one has run against tougher the last two and trailed the leaders. But three starts ago ran at this level and nearly won. Will shift to the turf here and drops two class rungs. Barn wins with .14% with the drop. Comes from a Stakes-winning mare. At the opposite end of the gate is our #2 selection — Moudari (1). This one drops considerably for this event and the barn wins with .43% when falling this far in price tag at one time. Barn wins with .18% of those going dirt to turf, too. Has speed. May be able to use it from the rail here. I bet the 12-1 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 12-1 over/under the 2-7-11-5-8 in two smaller units.

3rd: 6-7-9/4/1-1A/3-5/2…Fieldstone (6) gets my nod here. This 4YO son of Dialed In does come from a mare who has thrown a grass winner. This one has been facing much tougher and now drops to a career low price tag, again. Last time at this price level? Broke the maiden on Jan. 9, 2021 at the Faire Grounds. Barn is coming off a super meet at Churchill Downs. May keep the momentum going here. Gold Heritage (7) gets the blinkers back on for this one and drops into the claiming ranks for the first time. Barn wins with .25% when adding the shades again. Gets a good gate rider here and may need a little help at the start. Has a win in only previous try here over the sod. Optimus Kat (9) is out of a Kitten’s Joy mare and should fit the sod. Ran well against much better at Churchill Downs last time out and could probably win this one with a duplication of that effort. I be the 6-9 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 4-entry in two smaller units.

4th: 3/6-4/2-1/5…The first “Key Play of the Day” comes here Pinky Toe (3). This 3YO daughter of Dialed In ran very well this Spring, winning two in a row at Oaklawn Park before shipping up to Churchill Downs. Was right in the mix against some very salty characters before spitting the bit in the last try on May 19. Short vacation after that and is now training well over this track for a HOF barn operation. Look out here. I bet the 3 across the board and then key the 3 over/under the 6-4-2-1 in the exactas. More with the 6-4 than the rest.

5th: 3-7-1/2-6/4/5…Pea Patch Overnight Stakes…This Stakes event will be contested over the sod and at the sprint distance of 5.5-furlongs. I go with Devine Charger (3) in this spot. This 3YO daughter of Will Take Charge is coming off a powerful late-kicking 2nd in the Mamazelle Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 14. Was clipped right at the4 wire by Twiling Gleaming in that one. Got some time off after that race and has been training well for the return to action here. This filly has a win here, too. Trobairitz (7) has disappointed n the last two outings, but both of those were Stakes events at premier racetracks. Three starts ago, this gal won her 2nd in a row and looked awesome sprinting over the sod. Has 2 wins in 4 tries at this distance. Look for more here. Speedometer (1) has won three in a row for the HOF barn of Steve Asmussen, who won the Trainer’s Title at the recently concluded Churchill Downs’ meet. Will move to the sod here and the one tray over the grass, so far, was not impressive. Ran 8th at Saratoga in August of 2021. I bet the 3-7 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 2-6 in two smaller units.

6th: 8-1-10/3-7/4-5/6-9/2…Lady Eva (8) will make the career debut for trainer Mark Casse, who just completed a very chilly meet at Churchill Downs. This one is a daughter of the grand, new sire Bolt d’Oro — who is off to a very impressive start at stud. His kids have won the first race on .38% of the time, so far. Dam of this one has 2 winners from 5 starters. Hot rider gets the assignment. He has gone 2-0-1 in the last 8 races. Sicilian Grandma (1) is another first timer. She worked 4 furlongs impressively at KEE on July 4. Barn wins with .12 on the first start. Gets a speed rider up. Rail could be a tough spot for first timers, though. She Has the Look (10) has a sharp work at Churchill Downs on July 4 and a hot rider takes the reins. Barn is having a tough year and this may kick start a good summer. I bet the 8 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 3-7 in two smaller units.

7th: 1-8-10/3-7/4-5/6-9/2…Uninvited Guest (7) gets the nod in this 1-mile grass race. This son of Distorted Humor is coming off five really good races in a row. Has hit the board in 7 of 9 career starts and looks to be coming in here with some momentum. Cutback in distance could help this one immensely. Eleven Central (8) had a rough trip last time out when facing winners for the first time at Churchill Downs. Could pop out of that one and be on the speed march here. Gets a good gate rider up, as well. May get tough to catch here. Courageously (10) ran a super race last time out at Churchill Downs. In 6 starts at this distance, has 2 wins and the son of Quality Road comes out of a Stakes-winning Empire Maker mare who has thrown 4 turf winners, to date. Pedigree is there. May be getting good right now, too. I bet the 1-10 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 3-7 in two smaller units.

8th: 4/5-2/6-3-9/8-1/7…The last “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Reagan’s Decision (4). This trainer is one of the best youngsters to enter the game in years and and has won with .23% of 92 runners this year. This 3YO daughter of Unified is a Graded Stakes-placed winner already. Has faced some tough customers so far. Should appreciate this spot and should dominate this crowd. I bet the 4 across the board and then key the 4 over/under the 5-2-6-3-9-8 in the exactas. More with the 5-2 than the rest. 

9th: 4-12/2-1-9/(13)-(14)-8-5/7-10-3…Deep State (4) gets the nod in the finale. This 5YO son of Liam’s Map goes for one of the best kept secrets in the training community. Man can condition. Has won with .20% of 110 runners this year and this one is coming off a 2nd at Churchill Downs over a good sod course at Churchill Downs. Could make his first appearance in the winner’s circle after this one. Field Marshall (12) goes for a red-hot barn operation, which closed the recent Churchill Downs’ meet with a flurry. Ran well at Churchill Downs on May 5. Off since then. Training very well for the return. Gets a speed rider up and that may be interesting, since this son of War Front wants to come from off the pace. Interesting. I bet the 4 across the board and then box the 4-12 in the exactas. I will key the 4-12 over/under the 2-1-9-8-5 in two smaller units.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene