McLean’s Selections for Horseshoe Indianapolis for Wednesday, May 24

Here’s our looks at “The Shoe” on this “Hump Day” of activities, as we kick-start the “Deerfield — Team McLean” racing season, too. We will have Wire the Cash making his 2023 debut in the 9th race today. Let’s go racing at one of the most fun and scenic venues in the entire free world.

1st: 2/5-7/3/1//4/6…Liam the Brave (2) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter and also gets the designation as the first “Key Play of the Day,” as well. This 4YO gelding has just one win in the first 12 starts. But does have 2 more 2nds and 2 additional 3rds on the resume. And? Drops to a career-low price tag here for a top barn operation in these parts. Trainer has won with .24% of the first 66 starts this meet. Rider has won with .33% of the last 30 mounts for this barn, as well. I’m sold. I bet the 2 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 2 over/under the 5-7-3-1 in the exactas. More with the 5-7 than the rest. 

2nd: 4/2-6/3-5/1…The second “Key Play of the Day” comes in the 2nd race of the day and, just like the first race, comes with the same trainer-rider connections. This time the play is Mrs. Nushi (4). This one is listed at 6-5 in the ML and is likely to go down by PT. This one won just two starts back in Chicago and ran well before tiring here last time out at 5 furlongs. Has a win and a 2nd in 2 starts at this distance. Should pound out the win here against a suspect list of rivals. I bet the 4 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 4 over/under the 2-6-3-5-1 in the exactas. More with the 2-6 than the rest. 

3rd: 6-3/4-5-2/1-7…I could almost key another one here, but I will go with Mulberry Street (6) on top for a barn still looking for the first win of the meet. Has been running against much, much tougher at Oaklawn Park and should find this spot just to the liking. Won just three starts ago and has a nice rider taking the reins here. I bet the 6 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 6-3 in the exactas. I will key the 6-3 over/under the 4-5-2-1-7 in two smaller units. 

4th: 5-9-2/3-7/6-8//1-4…This is a 6-furlong MSW event for just the Indiana-breds and I will line up with Secret Rendezvous (5). This one makes the 2nd career start after getting nosed out in the debut here on May 9. Came with a flurry late in that one with the meet’s top rider up. Look out here. Could be ready for graduation day. I bet the 5 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 5-9-2 in the exactas. I will key the 5 over/under the 9-2-3-7-6-8 in two smaller units. 

5th: 5-10/4-7/1-(11)-(13)/6-2/3-9-(12)…The first grass event of the day and it is a 11/16-mile test for the MSW ranks. I go with Lil Miss Moonlight (5) here. This 3YO filly is by City of Light, who is off to a terrific start at stallion and has been throwing grass winners, as well. This one has four career starts and 4 runner-ups on the resume. Needs to find a way to get by the last one at the wire, but gets a top speed rider to help the cause here. Delphine (10) is a first time starter for the barn of Brad Cox and picks up the meet’s top rider for this daughter of City of Light. Training super and the barn wins with .19% of the last 124 to debut on the sod. Dam of this one was a Stakes-winner. I bet the 5-10 across the board and then box these two sternly in the exactas. I will key the 5-10 over (only) the 4-7-1-11-13 in a smaller version. 

6th: 2-9/3-7/5-8/6/4-10/1…Pickle Feet (2) is a name favorite and this 4YO Indiana-bred nearly won the 2023 debut here on May 3. Returns here as a beaten favorite and the barn wins with .20% of those kind. Has a 1-3-1 mark in 6 previous tries here. Never won at this distance, and that’s a concern. But does have 2 runner-ups. Encouraging. Corona Grande (9) has a win here and the trainer-jockey combo has gone 5-1-0 in the last 10 outs. May improve with a return to sprint racing here. Chance. I bet the 2 across the board and double down on th e win wager. I will box the 2-9 in the exactas. I will key the 2-9 over (only) the 3-7-5-8 in a smaller unit. 

7th: 2-3-1/8-9-10-6/7/4…This grass event will be contested at 11/16-miles and I will saddle up with Surete (2). This one just won with the first try on grass at Tampa Bay Downs. Trainer wins with .36% when making the 2nd start on the sod and this one keeps a veteran rider who knows how to find the winner’s circle. Has speed. And, that’s been a great thing on this grass course so far this meet. Speed. Rail. Has = wins. Hard Rye Guy (3) ran very well here on May 6. Finished a length back in 2nd, but was trying all the way to the wire. In 11 grass starts, so far? Has a 0-2-2 record. Underneath? Maintainer (1) ran well in the winter at Turfway Park, but the last 2 have been rough. Needs to find that previous form I bet the 2 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 2-3 over/under the 1-8-9-10-6-7 in two smaller units. 

8th: (11)/(12)/6-4-1/5-8/2-3-7-(13)/9…This is another grass event and will be held for the MSW level at 11/16-miles. The best of the best and next “Key Play of the Day” is Boppy (11). But this 3YO daughter of Blame has some work to do just to get in the starting gate. She is currently parked on the AE List. If she draws in? Play. Ran a super 2nd on debut at Turfway Park and March 25 and I was on hand that day. Talent here. If she does not get in, Agent (12) gets my bid. But, she, too, is on the AE List. Could run a big one if in. Barn wins with .22% on 2nd tries. If both are rejected, then I will divert to Mischief Lily (6). Well bred 3YO who ran 2nd when moved off the grass last time out. Has never hit the board in 4 tries over the sod. Ugh. But looks the part on paper. I bet the 11 across the board and double down the win wager, if in. If not, I will do the same with the 12. If not in, either, I will bette 6-4 across the board and then box the 6-4-1 in the exactas. 

9th: 2-7/1-6//3-4/5-8…Our very own, Wire the Cash (2), will make his 2023 debut here and we are hoping that he is geared up and ready to fire on first ask. Has been training well for a guy that knows how to win and is over-due for just that, too. Veteran rider has been up before and won with this guy last October. This distance may be his best and we are looking to have a really good year with this one. I bet the 2 across the board and double/triple down on the win wager. I will box the 2-7 in the exactas. I will key the 2-7 over (only) the 1-6 in a smaller unit. 

10th: 3/1-6-4/2-9/7/10/5…The only Quarter Horse race of the day will be held at 330 yards and I will go with QH guru Randy Smith and his steed Alota Lovin (3). This 4YO filly has run twice this year and was 2nd last time out. Stepped in at the start and lost too much ground to make up. Gets a rider who has won on her before this time and look for improvement. I’m in. I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then key the 3 over/under the 1-6-4-2-9-7 in the exactas. More with the 1-6-4 than the rest. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene