McLean’s Selections for Horseshoe Indianapolis on Wednesday “Stakes Day” — May 17

(Gene McLean at Horseshoe Indianapolis)

We will make our first appearance at Horseshoe Indianapolis in 2023 on this Wednesday “Hump Day” festival of racing. And, I will get the chance to return to one of my most favorite racing venues in the free world.

Just love the place.

Just love the people.

Just love the atmosphere and the racing vibe.

Just love it.

Here’s hoping we can love some of our picks before, and, especially, after the races at “The Shoe:”

1st: 4-7/2-6-1/5/3-8…On the Raydar (4) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter up at “The Shoe” on this “Hump Day” festival of racing. What a nice card has been assembled for the heart of cornland. This 4YO colt by Exaggerator comes in off three impressive runs in a row. Has a 3rd; a 2nd and a win. Has speed to burn, burn, burn and should be fitter in the 2nd off the layoff. Top barn operation in these parts and rider has won with .22% of the last 18 mounts for this trainer. Barn wins with .25% of the last 63 to return as a beaten favorite, too. Run Away Rojo (7) could figure at the wire, too. This is another true speedster and these two will have to be careful to not burn each other’s engines and set the race up for another. this one will make the 2nd start off the layoff and the first against winners. Was pretty impressive to break the MSW last time out. I bet the 4 across the board and then box the 4-7 in the exactas. I will key the 4-7 over/under the 2-6-1-5 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 5/3-6-4/2-7/1…The first “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Breakout Star (5). This 3YO colt goes for my old-time friend, Louie Roussel III, and will get a familiar rider on the back. Was up last time out. Will get Lasix for the 2nd time here, and the barn wins with .28% of the last 18 to get that angle. Gets back to the dirt here, and that should help this son of Union Rags. Connections paid $90,000 for this one at the 2YO sale in March of 2022. I bet the 5 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will key the 5 over/under the 3-6-4-2-7-1 in the exactas. More with the 3-6-4 than the rest. I will box the 3-6-4 in a small insurance policy, too. 

3rd: 8/9-6-11/4/1-10/5-3/2-7…The next “Key Play of the Day” will come here with Shesaceklverjustice (8), in the first grass race of the day. This 4YO Indiana-bred filly has raced over this course 6 previous times. No wins. But 2 runner-ups and a third. Has not run since appearing in the Lady Fog Horn Stakes over this track on Oct. 29. Barn wins with .15% coming off the bench and gets the meet’s best rider in the saddle. Lots to like here, and the works are spot on. I bet the 8 across the board and then double down on the win wager. Maybe even a triple down. I will key the 8 over/under the 9-6-11-4-1-10 in the exactas. More with the 9-6-11 than the rest. 

4th: 4-7-3/6/5-2//1…C.J’s Storm (4) gets the nod in this 6-furlong allowance race restricted to the Hoosier-breds. This 3YO gelding has a win in 5 previous tries here and has never been at this distance. But? Ran well when cutting back to a sprint last time out and was caught wide for much of that affair. A better trip here and this one could be a tough out at a very square price. Oh So Social (7) is my first “Upset Special of the Day.” This one is listed at 6-1 in the ML and could drift higher in the odds department. I’m playing, despite the barn’s lackluster numbers when racing for the 2nd time off a layoff (.02% win rate in the last 56). But this one ran very well last time out and could be there with just a little improvement. Golddiggendevil (3) is the ML favorite and is coming off a huge win in a MSW event here on May 3. Easy trip after being jostled at the start of that one. Impressive in the debut, but moves up to face winners for the first time here. Tougher group, to be sure. I bet the 7 — take note — across the board and then box the top 3  numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 6 in two smaller units. 

5th: 4-11-3/10-5/6-12/1-2-8…This is a 1-mile turf event for the MSW ranks and I will ante up with Ghost Coast (4). This 3YO son of Street Sense comes from an Exchange Rate mare and should love the sod setting. Ran well at Gulfstream Park in the last outing and picks up a nice rider switch for this effort. Barn has won with 2 of the first 5 starters of the meet. Look out here. Truly Quality (11) will make the career debut here and the barn wins with .20% of the last 110 to make the first start. Gets the world’s best rider for this journey and that means a lot to have Irad Oritiz, Jr. at “The Shoe.” Once upon a time, any horse that was trained by Brad Cox and running here would be bet down to zero odds. May be again too. Double Barrel (3) is bred to be super good and just tired in the career debut here on April 18. Look for huge improvement here and the dam of this one has 3 winners from 5 starters and 2 turf winners. Bred for the occasion. To be sure. I bet the 4-11 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over (0nly) the 10-5 in a smaller unit. 

6th: 2-8-4/9-7-11/1-3-6-12/10…Sagamore Sired Handicap Stakes…This is a 5.5 furlong sprint over the main track and I will give the edge to Good Forever (2). This one is trained by a top barn operator in these parts, and he’s off to a very solid start to this meet, as well. Has 10-9-7 record in the first 51 starts. Picks up the meet’s best rider for his one, too. The rider and trainer have gone 3-4-1 in the last 9 outs. Solar Power (8) has some stalking ability, but the ride chooses to stick with the top pick. New rider here. Returns as a beaten favorite for the 2023 debut and the barn wins with a whopping .40% of the last 25 to qualify for that title. Spotonjustice (4) is a beaten favorite returning, too, and this barn wins with .22% of the last 68 of those types. Gets a top rider, who is off to a rough start to the meet, so far. Has won with just 4 of the first 60. He will get it going. Work on April 29 is spot on. I bet the 2-8 across the board and then box the top three numbers in the exactas. I will key the 2-8 over/under the 4-9-7-11-1-3 in two smaller units. 

7th: 1-6-8/4-2/3/7//5…Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap…This is a 1-mile event over the turf and I will give the edge to the railbird — Mrs. Astor (1). This 3YO filly has a 1-1-1 record in 4 career starts over the sod and picks up Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the saddle. This one ran a super race at KEE on April 14. Just got edged for the win that day as the PT favorite. Barn wins with .27% when making the 2nd start of the layoff and has gone 2-0-1 in the last 4 outs. Safeen (6) could spice up the odds here. This one has never missed the board in 4 career starts and has a 1-1-2 record. Gets one of the best rides in the land and should be sitting on go from the get. May take them gate to wire. Erna (8) will make the first start for the new barn and that may be an issue. Trainer is 0-for-6 when getting a newbie. But this one has real talent and can’t dismiss. 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 4-2 in two smaller units. 

8th: 5-1/7-9/3-8-11/10-6/2//4…Casesar’s Handicap Stakes…This is a 1-mile turf event and I will lean on Dude N Colorado (5). This is a 3YO son of Uncle Mo and the dam was a Stakes-winner who has already thrown 4 turf winners from 5 starters — including 3 Stakes winners. This one won the Colonel Liam Stakes at Gulfstream Park just two starts ago and ran huge in the G3 Transylvania last time out. May like this shorter distance her. And, will get Lasix for the first time. Lots, lots, lots to like. Wadsworth (1) is a talent who exits the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks. Ran well for awhile against Two Phils, who just ran 2nd in the KY Derby. Could pop with first try on grass. Could. I bet the 5 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the 5-1 sternly in the exactas. I will key the 5 over/under the 1-7-9-3-8-11-10-6 in two smaller units. 

9th: 8-10/2-4/6-5-3-1/7-9…Swifty Sired Fillies Handicap Stakes…This is a 5.5-furlong sprint over the main track and I will give the edge to Imagine the Moon (8). This 3YO filly has not raced since last October, but she finished the year with back to back impressive wins and one in Stakes company. Has raced here 4 times. Has a 2-1-0 mark. Work on May 12 was a bullet. Barn wins with .14% of the layoff. Looks poised. Brittanysgldnfaith (10) won here on May 6 and that recent experience could be the difference maker. Fitter. Sharper. Ready. New rider has experience with this one, too, and can boot. Barn off to a very solid start to the meet. Threat. I bet the 8-10 across the board and then box these two sternly in the exactas. Sternly. I will key the 8-10 over (only) the 2-4-6-5-3-1 in a smaller unit. 

10th: 4-7/2-12-6-11/3-8-10/1-5-9…This is the first of two Quarter Horse races to close out the day and this one will be contested at 330 yards. I give the edge to Aprollific Jess (4). This one has a third in 4 career starts, but those came in the Southwest and in the middle of QH country. Should like the change of venue. I bet the 4 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the 4-7 in the exactas. I will key the 4-7 over/under the 2-12-6-11 in two smaller units. 

11th: 5-2-4/8/6/9-12-3/7-10…The finale is a 250-yard sprint for the 2YOs, and it is dart throwing time. I go with Dan Jess Plain Bill (5). Why? Trained by Randy Smith. Guru of the QH trade here. I bet the 5 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 8-6 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene