Comments Added: McLean’s Selections for Horseshoe Indianapolis on “Caesars Stakes Day” — Wednesday, May 18

We have been struggling a bit with some health-related issues, but we are hoping that we are on the mend and we are hoping that we can get back on the grounds of the beautiful Horseshoe Indianapolis very, very, very soon.

Just love that place.

The track kick starts its’ amazing Stakes schedule in true earnest on Wednesday with four major Stakes events — including 2 for the Indiana-bred 3YOs and 2 for the open contenders, 3YOs on the grass.

Here’s our looks. And, nothing heals you up quicker than a bowl of mom’s chicken noodle soup and a few winners on the tote board:

1st: 6/2-5/3/7/1-4…Barossa (6) is a 3YO son of Into Mischief and is now in the barn of Rudolph Brisset after being shifted from the embattled trainer Bob Baffert. Since that departure, this one has run 3 times. Last out was a debacle in the Lafayette Stakes, where he was 12th and beaten nearly 20 lengths. Drops back into the allowance ranks here in hopes of a recovery act. Last work on May 8 was very nice. May like a return to the route distance, too. Barn wins with .25% of the last 75 to stretch it out. I’ll give this one a chance at redemption. I bet the 6 across the board and then key the 6 over/under the 2-5-3-7 in the exactas. 

2nd: 7-4/2-8/1-5/3-9…Cecilia’s Hope (7) gets the nod here. This 4YO Indian-bred filly has not run well in the last two, but drops from the allowance ranks all the way to the $10,000 level here for a trainer who knows her way to the circle. In 15 previous runs here, this one has a 3-3-2 record and it was not that long ago when she was knocking on serious company. Apron Strings (4) ran very well last time out in the 2022 debut, but that was at the “bargain bin” price category. Does have a 5-1-6 record in 16 starts here. But will face tougher. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the 7-4 in the exactas. I will key the 7-4 over/under the 2-8-1-5 in two smaller units.

3rd: 4-6-7/9-3/8-10/1-2…Rocky Rush (4) will make the 2022 debut for a trainer that does win with .11% of the last 114 off this kind of winter vacation. Has been training very well for the debut and comes in as a beaten favorite, as well. Barn wins with .29% of those kind. Rider has gone 5-1-1 in the last 20 starts and has won with .22% for this barn in the last 9 mounts. One to beat, for me. Texas Gano (6) could spice up the odds rack here, a bit. Listed at 10-1 in the ML, and will make the 2022 debut, too. Working well. Gets a top rider on these grounds. Could be coming late. Leave It to Kitten (7) is another upset possibility. Ran very well at Turfway Park against some tough customers and should fit very nicely with the drop here. Take note. My first “Upset Special of he Day.” I will? I will bet the 4-7 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 4-7 over/under the 6-9-3-8-10 in two smaller units.

4th: 9/2-8/3-4/5-7-11…The second “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Sweepinjustice (9). This 3YO Indy-bred filly nearly won last time out and seems to be sitting on a  big one here. Experienced rider returns to the saddle job and the barn is winning at an .11% rate so far this meet. Could pop here. I bet the 9 across the board and then key the 9 over/under the 2-8-3-4-5 in the exactas. 

5th: 10-4-5/7/2-3-9/1-6-8…This is the 2nd turf race of the day, if the rains don’t wash off the proceedings. This one will be contested at the extended sprint distance of 7.5 furlongs and I will go to the outside and saddle up with Grand In Bay (10). This 3YO son of Majestic Harbor will be making the 2022 debut and the first try over the surface. But seems to be training well and the win here last November was very impressive. Faced Mr Chaos in the opener and that won ran off to win by 7 and is undefeated. More on him later. Could be a nice price, as well. Nates Heartthrob (4) is the ML favorite and will make the 2022 debut here, too. Barn wins with .17% of those away this long. Has 2 seconds in 4 trips here. But? Just 1-for-19 lifetime. Overthetopjustice (5) ran a real good one at Tampa Bay in April against open company. If he rediscovers that form here? Look out. Nice odds, too. I bet the 10-5 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 7 in two smaller units.

6th: 1/2/6-9/4/5-10/3-7…Sagamore Sired Stakes…The next “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Mr Chaos (1). We chatted with rider Rodney Prescott this morning. Take a listen to our chat. This 3YO gelding has been a whirlwind from the beginning — breaking the maiden in the fist start by over 7 lengths. Won the 2022 debut here impressively on April 19. Should fit this 5.5-furlong Stakes perfectly with the rail trip. Has speed. Can stalk. Can fly. Can finish. Love this one. I bet the 1 to win/place and then key the 1 over/under the 2-6-9-4 in the exactas. More with the 2 than the rest.

7th: 1-3-6/12/2-5-8/4/7-9…Swifty Sired Fillies Stakes…This “fillies’ version” of the Stakes is a little more wide open, IMO. I will give the edge to the rail horse, again, and line up with Holy Justice (1). This gal has run three times at Oaklawn Park over the winter and has some serious education and conditioning coming into this one. Held her own against much, much better. Could find the company here more to her liking. Take a look here. Lexi Sun (3) has won two of the last 3 outings and has the speed to be seriously dangerous. Has won over a “good” track, too, and that may come in handy depending on the weather today. Unbridled Victory (6) will make the barn debut for the new trainer and the 2022 debut, too. Has speed and gets the meet’s top rider up. Jockey has won with .25% of the first 59 mounts this meet. Look out. I bet the 1-6 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 12 in two smaller units.

8th: 2-8-3/6-7-1/9/5…Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes…What a nice couple of Stakes on the turf carded today, as well. This one will be contested at the 1-mile distance for the 3YO fillies. I give the edge to Alittleloveandluck (2), who ships in from Aqueduct and picks up regular rider Paco Lopez for the journey. Ran 6th in the G3 Florida Oaks just two races back, but lost that day to Dolce Zel, maybe the best in the game right now. Won the Ginger Brew at Gulfstream Park back on Jan. 1. Has class. Dreamworker (8) has tactical speed and ran much better than looks in the Stakes event at the Fair Grounds in March. “Show” horse that day came right back to win the next out, too. Local rider has won on this one before. Bravo Kitten (3) may be the horse to beat. Cuts back off the endurance test last time out. Will be coming late and the rider has done well in this venue before. Take a serious look here. I bet the 2-3 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 2-3 over/under the 8-6-7-1 in two smaller units.

9th: (9)-4-7-3/2-5-6/8/1…Caesars Stakes…The key here is whether this event will stay on the sod or no. If not? I’ll go with Kuchar (9) and American Pure (6). These two are entered for the MTO, only. Both of them will enjoy a trip over the main track and have the class to win this one in style. The former ran a huge one last time out at Oaklawn Park. Nearly won that one and the cut back in distance should help. The latter has raced here and won here and has now been tough three times in a row with the addition of Lasix. Look out. If it stays on the sod? I’ll go to Tommy Bee (4). This 3YO son of Medaglia d’Oro goes for the barn of Brad Cox, who is winning at an unbelievable rate of .46% after the first 13 starts here this meet. This one has raced 7 times n the career and has a 3-3-0 record. Won at KEE last time out over the sod. Class act and the world-famous Irad Ortiz, Jr. comes into town for the mount. That’s right. The Irad Ortiz, Jr. I will? I will bet the 9-6 if it comes off the sod. I will key the 4 if it stays on. 

10th: 5/7-4-2/3-6/1…The day’s finale is a Quarter Horse sprint at the distance of 300 yards and I will give the serious nod to Bv Amazed (5). This one comes from the barn of Randy Smith and nearly won here last October. Will make the 2022 debut here, but appears to be working well for the return. Nice odds in the ML, too. I bet the 5 across the board and then key the 5 over/under the 7-4-2-3-6 in the exactas.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene