McLean’s Selections — With Comments — for Horseshoe Indianapolis on G3 Indiana Derby Day

(Stats to be updated)

Here’s our looks for the biggest racing day of the year at “The Shoe,” nestled in the corn fields, suburbs and the beauty of Indiana — G3 Indiana Oaks and G3 Indiana Derby Day.

No further adieu…

Drum roll please…

1st: 6-3-7/4-5/2…G Fore Jimmi (6) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter today — with a kickstart time of 12 noon ET. This 3YO filly by Jimmy Creed has a couple of 2nds and a win in the last 3 outings and nearly won the Hoosier Sophomore Stakes last time out. Just a little more luck and a better spot early and this one could score at a square price. Catatonic (3) may be the best bet in this race, though. This one comes from the highly-successful barn of trainer Larry Rivelli, who is winning at a .27% clip after 151 starts this year. Toss the last one, when she was nowhere at the start. Could be a nice upset winner here. I bet the 6-3 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. 

2nd: 2-6-3/5/7/4-1…Hot Crazy Matrix (2) ships in for HOF trainer Steve Asmussen and this daughter of Tapit should improve off the first start. This sire is one of the world’s best of all time. But the off-spring normally take a start or 2 to get the light burning bright. Top rider up. Big threat here. She’s  Very Demure (6) may be the best bet, though. This one is a first timer for a barn that wins with .23% on debut this year with 26 starters. Daughter of Vekoma, and the sire wins with .21% on first ask. Dam has a winner in three starters. Lots to like here. I bet the 2-6 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. 

3rd: 4-3-7/1/2/5-6…Seven Emmys (4) is listed at 6-1 in the ML, by my good friends at Brisnet.com. That’s a bit high on the scale and if you can get those odds, I would suggest a try here. Ran 2nd on debut and the barn wins with .16% of the last 55 on the 2nd try. I like this one. I bet the 4 across the board and double down on the win wager. I box the top 3 in the exactas. And, then I key the top 3 over/under the 1 in two smaller units. 

4th: 1-2/3-4-6/7…Millard’s Legacy (1) looks salty in this Indiana-bred MSW event for the 3YOs & up. This one has run two good ones to begin the career and the trainer has been hot of late — going 4-1-2 in the last 12 outs. Lots to like. I bet the 1 across the board and then box the 1-2 in the exactas. I key the 1-2 over (only) the 3-4-6-7 in a smaller denomination. 

5th: 4/9/6-8-2/5-3/1-7-10…Indiana General Assembly Stakes…The first turf race of the day comes here and I go with my first “Key Play of the Day,” as well. I lock in on She’s Lookin Lucky (4), who will make her Horseshoe debut, but she has 7 previous tries over the sod. Has a win, too, and nearly won the G3 Cardinal at Churchill Downs last November. Has only one start this year and should improve off that one. Gets a very heady grass rider up for the occasion. I love this one today. I bet the 4 across the board and double down on the win wager. I key the 4 over/under the 9-6-8-2-5-3 in the exactas. More with the 9. I also box the 4-9 in another set. 

6th: 3/5-4/7/8/1-9…Mari Hulman George Memorial Stakes…The second “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Alpine Princess (3). This 4YO daughter of Classic Empire has started 4 times this year with 2 seconds and a third. But she has been knocking on the door nearly every time. Likes it dry and should get that surface here. Look out. Could be rolling down the stretch by wire time. I bet the 3 across the board and double/triple down on the win wager. I key the 3 over/under the 5-4-7-8 in the exactas. More with the 5-4 than the rest. 

7th: 9-12/6-1-3-8/7-5…Snack Handicap Stakes…This gets my first “Upset Special of the Day” on top. I go with Mackadoo (9), who is listed at 10-1 in the ML. Love to get half those odds by PT. This one returns as a beaten favorite and the barn wins with .16% of the last 31 to qualify for that honor. Sharp work on June 29. Gets a top rider up for this one and look for this one to be a very tough out in this spot. Breezy Justice (12) should be the PT favorite and warrants a shot. Toss the last one on a sloppy main track. Two back on the grass was a top-notch effort for a top rider. Eligible to improve on the 3rd start off a layoff. I bet the 9-12 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 9-12 over/under the 6-1-3-8 in two smaller units. 

8th: 7-9/3-5/8-2//6-1-4…Jonathan Schuster Memorial Stakes…This is a turf event going 11/16-miles and I line up with Higgins Boat (7). This 4YO gelding tired in the last effort and the cut back in distance should help here. Ran a super one on Feb. 15 at the Fair Grounds. Fits with these nicely. Rider is a perfect 1-for-1 here. Encino (9) will either go here or in the next one, where he could stay on the dirt. He is a favorite in either spot, but I prefer the next one. I bet the 7 across the board and double down on the win wager. I key the 7 over/under the 9-3-5-8-2 in the exactas. 

9th: 3/8/11/2/6-5-4/9-10…Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes…This is where Encino (3) could shine the brightest, IMO. The 4YO son of KY Derby winner Nyquist spit the bit in the G3 Pimlico Special last time out. But he would shorten back up here and could be a load. Won 4 in a row last year, including the G3 Lexington Stakes at KEE. Talented sort. Just watch him run on the front end. Wow. I bet the 3, if he goes here, to win and place and then key the 3 over/under the 8-11-2-6-5-4 in the exactas. I may box the 8-11-2 as an insurance policy, as well. 

10th: 4-10-5/1/8-12-6-11-7/2…Ellen’s Lucky Handicap Stakes…This is a Stakes event for the Indiana-breds only and I lock down on Off Pitch (4). This 3YO daughter of Mo town comes from a top barn and she nearly won against open company last time out here. If she pulls off that same run here? Look out and look to the front. Could be gone, gone, gone. I bet the 4 across the board and double down on the win wager. I box the top 3 numbers in the exactas and key the 4 over/under the 10-5-1-8 in two smaller units. 

11th: 2-5/1/3/6-4…G3 Indiana Oaks Stakes…What a talented field and the top two will have a rematch today on new ground. I have to go with Clicquot (2) on top, due to her grinding and sweet win over Heavenly Sunset (5) the last time out at Churchill Downs. The former has now won two in a row and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any. Sharp work on June 27 in Louisville. New rider seems to fit. The latter gets a new pilot, as well, and comes in with some nice credentials, too. Had the lead in the last and just could not hold off the top pick. Look for this two to match up again. If there is an upset? Maybe look at Sturgeon Moon (1). Goes for a new trainer who wins with .21% of the newbies on debut for the barn. Nice works of late. Could pop at a big number here. I bet the 2-1 across the board and then box the 2-5-1 in the exactas. 

12th: 3-9-6/7-8/1…G3 Indiana Derby Stakes…The big daddy of them all at “The Shoe,” and despite the scratch by Ethan West of Chunk of Gold (5), this should be a good one. A really, really, really good one. In fact, I didn’t like   “The Chunk” in here, any way, and that may be the reason Ethan ducked and ran. I go with Coal Battle (3), a beautiful dark bay son of Coal Front. This one has been knocking heads with the very best 3YOs of the crop and has held his own. Trouble in the Ky Derby and I can toss that one. Won the G2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn and I see that kind of racing shaping up here. Corey Lanerie rode him well the last time out. Look out here today. Instant Replay (9) goes for trainer Brad Cox, and he does well in this race every year. The one has won 2 in a row and three in the last 4. Hot right now. Should be the PT favorite. Tip Top Thomas (6) ships in for trainer Todd Pletcher off a win at Aqueduct. Dominated that field. Tougher spot here and will be over-bet. If you are looking for a long shot to utilize in the process? I include Brotha Keny (8). Has 2 wins in a row over this track. Gets the best rider on the grounds. I use. I bet the 3 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I box the 3-9-8 in one set of exactas. And, I key the 3 over/under the 9-6-7-8-1 in two smaller units. 

13th: 1-6/5/8-3/4-9…The finale today and I go with the railbird — Elite Heat (1) for the Cox team. Brit-bred should pop here nicely. I bet the 1 across the board and double down on the win wager. I box the 1-6 in the exactas. I key the 1-6 over/under the 5 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene