Final Version: McLean’s Selections for Keeneland on Wednesday, Oct. 26

Stats Are Now Completely Updated

Here’s our looks for Keeneland on this coming Wednesday, the greatest way to spend “Hump Day:”

1st: 4-6/5/1/2//3…Undecoded (4) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at the scenic oval in Lex-town on this “Hump Day.” This 3YO daughter of Algorithms was claimed last time out for $20,000 and now will make the first start for the new barn operation. Barn wins with .08% with newcomers and with .13% with those making the 2nd start off a layoff. Picks up a huge rider switch and this one has a 3-1-0 mark at this distance. Could be popular here, despite the 6-1 ML odds. Passionfortreasure (6) is the ML favorite and comes in off a huge win in Cleveland. Moves up to the big leagues right now and picks up a top rider. Has speed and could be a tough out here. I bet the 4-6 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 4-6 over/under the 5-1-2 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 7-4/3-6-8/9-2/10-1/5…Bonanza Grade (7) flashed a ton of speed in the debut effort and tired at the end of that one. Barn wins with .28% when moving from the MSW ranks into the MCL level. Ran up against Justa Warrior in the debut effort and that one came back to win a Stakes later in the summer at Ellis Park. Look out for this one. May not stop this time around. Moon Magic Chrissy (4) drops into the MCL ranks here, too. Barn wins with .18% of those kind and .18% when going from a route distance to a sprint. Gets a top end rider up for the first time. Look out here with some speed. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the top two in the exactas. I will key the 7 over/under the 4-3-6-8-9-2 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 4-5/2-6-7/1-3-8…Adaline Julia (4) could pop at a square price here. This 3YO daughter of Oxbow will make the career debut and has a series of prime workouts to boost the effort. Rider has teamed up with the trainer to go 2-1-0 in the last 7 efforts. Dam of this one has produced 3 winners from 5 starters. Look out. Awesome Ally Vee (5) ran a credible 2nd at this same level last time out. That effort may produce a similar finish here. I bet the 4 across the board and then key the 4 over/under the 5-2-6-7 in the exactas. 

4th: 3-8/1-4-6-9/2/7-5…Overtaxed (3) drops into the claiming ranks here after two so-so efforts of late. The win at Churchill Downs on June 11 was spot on. That rider returns here and the barn wins with .06% when moving into the claiming ranks for the first time. Works of late are solid. Double Thunder (8) ran in the Breeders’ Cup at the end of 2021. Has not fired much this year in two starts. Now, the 3YO son of Super Saver ends up in the claiming ranks. Gets a top rider for a top barn. Look out here, if he can rediscover the old self. I bet the 3-8 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 3-8 over/under the 1-4-6-9-2 in two smaller units.

5th: 2-10/4-8-11/3/5/1//7-6…Running Bee (2) gets the nod here. This 3YO son of English Channel ran poorly in the G3 Dueling Grounds Derby and over the hills and dales of KY Downs. But he would not be the first to dislike the undulations and unusual course. Returns here to the flats and ran very well to break the MSW at Saratoga just two starts ago. Gets a huge rider switch here and drops back into the allowance ranks. Look out. Mount Rundle (10) ran 3rd in the same Stakes at KY Downs last time out. Well beaten, but still 3rd. Ran OK at Ellis Park in a Stakes, too. Broke the MSW over the sod at Churchill Downs in early June. Has ability. I bet the 2 across the board and then box the top 2 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 2 over/under the 10-4-8-11-3-5-1 in two smaller units. 

6th: 3-2/8/4-7/5/6-1…Zainalarab (3) will make the first start for the new trainer and will move to the dirt, too. Barn wins with .14% of the last 108 to make the barn switch. Also, trainer wins with .22% when moving from the turf to the dirt. In 5 starts over a fast dirt surface? This one is 2-1-0. Gets a top rider for the job. Bombdiggity (2) has run two good ones in a row and has been much, much better after getting treated with Lasix. Rider who won on his back gets back aboard here. I bet the 3-2 across the board and box those two in the exactas. I will key the 3-2 over/under the 8-4-7-5 in two smaller units. 

7th: 11-6-7/4-5/3/2-1/10-9…Jarreau (11) gets a bad break with the break from the outside post here. But the 5YO gelded son of Pioneerof the Nile comes in off 4 good ones in a row. Been right there in each. Returns here as a beaten favorite. Barn wins with .22% of the last 436 that fit that category. In 15 turf starts to date, this one has a 2-5-1 record. Can he pass the last one when making the stretch run? Good question. Verstappen (6) gets a hot rider and nearly won on this one last time out at KY Downs. Will stalk and pounce. Could fit here nicely. Al’s Rocket (7) is another late runner and will be a stretch threat. Rider is world class, but will need some racing luck. I bet the 11-7 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 4-5-3 in two smaller units. 

8th: 3-10-11/6-7/1-4/9//2-5-8…Master Game (3) picks up the nod in the finale. This one drops out of the MSW ranks into the $40,000 price point for the first time. Gets blinkers for the first, time, too. Barn wins with .13% making this drop in class and with .16% picking up the shades. Biggest change is a return of the best rider on the grounds. Work on Oct. 6 was spot on. Could overpower these. Point of an Affair (10) will make the career debut here and the barn wins with 0-for-21 when making the first start in the MCL ranks. Wow. Time for a change for this top-ranked trainer. Apollo Rising (11) ran super in the debut effort at $30,000. Moves up to face tougher here. Barn wins with .12% on 2nd starts. I bet the 3 across the board and double down on the win bet. I box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I key the top 3 numbers over/under the 6-7 in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene