McLean’s Selections for Ellis Park on Thursday, June 22

(Stats to be updated after Horseshoe Indianapolis’ card on Wednesday, June 21)

Here’s our looks at the ole’ “Pea Patch” on this Thursday afternoon in beautiful West KY:

1st: 1-8/5-7/4/2/3-6…King of Kentucky (1) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at the ole’ “Pea Patch” at Ellis Park this sunny (sometimes) afternoon. Well, this one will get underway at 11:45 a.m. CT. So, sunny (sometimes) morning. This 3YO gelded son of Speightstown was claimed last time out, before nearly winning the MC $10,000. Back at the same tag for a barn that wins with .15% of the last 41 to make the debut for the new trainer. Looks salty here if he can duplicate the last effort and will go as a first-time gelding here, too. New rider could help preserve the gate speed a tad longer. Swaggish (8) drops all the way to the $10,000 level here after testing much deeper water earlier in the career. Gets a top rider and if he doesn’t fit here? Then where? I bet the 1-8 across the board and then box these two sternly in the exactas. I will key the 1-8 over/under the 5-7-4-2 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 8-3-6/7/5//2/4…Lambo (8) looks like he could give the HOF trainer a back-to-back win in the early Daily Double. This 2YO son of Uncle Mo has been training quite nicely for the career debut and the barn wins with .14% of the last 688 to start the career in MSW ranks. Top rider up. I like this one. A lot. Sharp work on June 19 to set up this one. I bet the 8 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 8-3-6 in the exactas. And, I will key the 8 over/under the 3-6-7-5 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 3-6-5/2/1-4…Graphic Detail (3) goes for a top barn operation, which is winning at a .33% rate this meet. Gets a solid gate rider for the return visit to the saddle and rider has won with .23% of the last 22 for his trainer. Has stalking speed and can run on. Rider has gone 4-1-2 in the last 14 ups. Communication Memo (6) could give the HOF trainer three wins in a row to start the day? Possible. This one will get Lasix for the 2nd time and will return off an extended vacation. Barn wins with .18% of the last 716 to be away this long. Fits here with a rider who has gone 8-3-1 in the last 23 rides. Everso Mischievous (5) has run two huge ones to start the career. Would not surprise here, but this son of Into Mischief cost only $85,000 at the KEE Horses of Racing Age Sale in April. I bet the 3-5 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 2 in two smaller units.

4th: 5-8-10/1/6-9-(11)/(12)/2/7/3-4…Noises Off (5) gets the nod in the first grass race of the day. This will be contested at the two-turn distance of 11/16-miles. And, this gelded son of Candy Ride will make the grass debut here. Trainer wins with only .08% of the last 40 to make the sod debut. But this one has run 2nd four times in a row over the main track. Barn is 2-1-1 in the last 6. Dam has 2 winners from 4 starters — but no turf winners. Interesting. Baba Voss (8) has one start over the sod and ran 4th at Woodbine last August. Been off since then. Gets blinkers on. Gets Lasix. Barn is winning at a .22% rate here. And gets a top rider up. Lots to like. Mo Saturdays (10) will race for the first time as a gelding. Has been on the sod three times. Has 2 runner-ups. Rider is not his best on sod, but knows this track very well. I bet the 5-8 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 1 in two smaller units.

5th: 2-7/1/5-6/4/3…Summertime Rose (2) may be a good claim for someone today. This 3YO daughter of Malibu Moon is out of a winning Smart Strike mare, who has a Stakes winner already. Has run OK in the past against MSW company. Gets huge drop in class here for a trainer who wins with .13% when going into the MCL ranks for the first time. Top rider up. Big  threat, IMO. Malibu Smart (7) ran very well at this level last time out at Churchill Downs and if she can duplicate that effort here? Look out. Top gate rider will win position early. Can she carry it out? Question here. I bet the 2-7 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 2-7 over/under the 1-5-6-4 in two smaller units. 

6th: 6/2-5/1/3-4…Circle Back Jack (6) is the lone “Key Play of the Day.” This 4YO gelded son of Tonalist has hit the board in each of he last three outings and returns here as a beaten favorite. Barn wins with .22% of the last 112 of those and is having a solid meet here, as well. Rider has won with .36% of the last 14 outs for this barn, too. This one has speed, but can rate, as well. Look out here. This one may smoke this group. I bet the 6 to win/place and then key the 6 over/under the 2-5-1-3-4 in the exactas. More with the 2-5- than the rest. 

7th: 2-1/(12)-(10)-(11)/6-5/7-8/9/3/4…The second of three grass races carded today and this one will be contested at the sprint distance of 5.5-furlongs. I saddle up with Linguistic (2). This 4YO daughter of the under-rated stallion Flatter comes in off a series of really nice races, dating back to last year. Has hit the board in the last 4 and 8 of the last 9. Has never won at this speciality distance, but has two 2nds and a 3rd in three career efforts. Top, top rider up. Lots to like here. Enough to send me to the windows. I bet the 2 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 2-1 in the exactas. I will key the 2-1 over/under the 6-5-7-8-9 in two smaller units. The 12-10-11 are all Main Track Only, in case another sprinkler head breaks. 

8th: 7-6/5-4-8-2/3-10//1-9…King Ottoman (7) is a colt I have touted and liked for quite some time. Has hit the board in each of the last 4 with 1 win and three 2nds. I would like to win more and today may be the day. Gets a top rider back up and returns as a beaten favorite. Barn wins with a whopping .24% of the last 837 to do that. Will stretch out a bit here, too. That may help the cause. I’m back on. I bet the 7 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 7-6 in the exactas. I will key the 7-6 over/under the 5-4-8-2-3 in two smaller units. Like the 7. A lot. 

9th: 9-8-10/2-7-(11)/3-(12)/1-6-(13)/4/5…Today’s finale is a 11/16-mile race over the grass for the MSW company and I will go with the outside runners to make the grade here. St. Neots (9) ran a huge one last time out at Churchill Downs. Another effort like that one? Probably makes this one a winner here. Barn is still looking or first win of the meet, but does have 2 runner-ups and a third in 4 starts. Like the rider. Royal Salute (8) will get Lasix for the first time and this barn wins with .15% of the last 54 to get the anti-bleeder. Love this trainer and how he gets his horses to the races. Look out here at a solid price. Curlins Incharge (10) ran well two starts ago. Different tactic last time out and sped off too fast. Cost him then. If he can rate here, then he will have a shot. I bet the 9-8 across the board and double down on the win wager of the 8. Take note. I will box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will also key the 9-8 over/under the 10-2-7-11-3-12 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene