McLean’s Selections for Memorial Day, May 28

What a beautiful day to recognize, celebrate, honor and commemorate. And, a wonderful day to do so at Churchill Downs — long recognized for its’ celebration of our military heroes and “Wounded Warriors.” Let’s all take a minute today to recognize those that have sacrificed for the betterment of us all, and the country that we love; the freedom we all cherish; and the community in which we all call home.

Here is a closer look at today’s card at Churchill Downs:

1st: 2-4-3-6-5…More On Tap (2) is a beaten favorite, by just a head, for a barn that scores with .31% of those returning the next time out. Looked a winner here at this same level. A similar run today may put in the winner’s circle. Gizmo Jones (4) gets a huge drop in class for a trainer that is having a great year and wins with .32% of claimers. In too tough in the last, but two back was right there against a winner who has already returned to the winner’s circle again since the last race. Salsa’s Return (3) drops a notch in class, and won just three races back at a lower level. Deep closer will need racing room late. I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box solidly with the 4. I key those two over the rest in a smaller version.

2nd; 3-5-1-7-6…Fast Girl (3) was a contender in the last one, closing late, when dropped to this level for the first time. Hit the rail late in that one, or may have been closer at the wire. A cleaner trip may get start this one a bit. Lily Sofia (5) gets a huge drop in class after the first try against straight maidens. Trainer hits with .21% of those trying a route of ground for the first time, too. Worth a shot with a new rider in here. Klassie Connect (1) has three thirds in the last four races and that’s where we predict that he shows up today. Rooting for the trainer to get the first 2018 win, though. I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in one exacta. Tread lightly.

3rd: 4-6-2-5-3-1…Diamonds for Leah (4) gets a huge drop in class today out of the last one, when she nearly won here in the slop. Speedster should try to carry her speed to a route of ground today, but the trainer doesn’t do great in this category (.08%). This one has 2 wins and a third in 5 tries over this track, and appears to be the heavy favorite, but the distance makes her vulnerable. Beware. Play the Break (6) is a veteran at this distance and nearly pulled off the win last time out. Tired late in that one to lose the lead, but should be in a perfect stalking position to try to pull this one out with a top rider up. Or Bird (2) goes for a trainer having a super meet. She claimed this one last time out and hits with .13% of those making the barn debut. Just missed in that last one, while closing late. I like in this speed-heavy race. I bet the 4-2 across the board and then box the top 3 in one exacta. I key the top 3 over the rest in a smaller version.

4th: 1-4-2-6-3…Midnight Pleasure (1) goes for a trainer new to this area, and just out on his own. This one ran OK here against much tougher as the heavy favorite. Now gets class relief that appears to put this one in a good spot. A deep closer will need racing room late, but the rail is hitting with .18% at this distance. Super nice work at Keeneland on May 21. Take note. Long on Luck (4) goes for a trainer that is having a super good year (.30% with 129 mounts) and looked to be in a good spot before tiring late in the last. Shortens up a bit off that start, and that may help with that concern. Moves up a notch in class for this one, though. John Tipperman (2) started his career like a real good one, beating the likes of Storm Runner in the second start and losing to Snapper Sinclair and Flameaway by just a couple of lengths. Has fallen on hard times lately, but gets into the claiming ranks for the first time for a barn that hits with .16% on that drop. If he can find the old form, he will be mighty tough in this spot. I bet the 1-2 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exacta.

5th: 4-3-7-2-5-1…First Premio (4) drops back in class after running a super game second to a nice one, Mr. Cub, in the Opening Verse Stakes here. Closer now stretches out another 1/16-mile and that could help, as well as the newly applied blinkers. Trainer hits with .17% with the glasses for the first time. Jockey is heating up here, too. My choice in a tough one. Revved Up (3) has a win and a third in two starts over this grass. Drops out of the Graded Stakes company, where he has run the last three times. The drop in class should definitely help this one, too. Flatlined (7) is super good when he fires his best shot. Beat the likes of Diversidio in the past and ran third to Mr. Cub in the last. Looks poised for another good one, with a deep closing move. I bet the 4-3 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in this exacta.

6th: 9-1-2-10-11-3-4-8-7-12…My first “dot” and “Best Bet of the Day,” comes right here with some nice odds, to boot. Jefazo (9) is a super work horse in the morning who has had a couple of “rougher than it looks” like trips in the first two outs. Trained by my great friend Buff Bradley, who I think is one of the most under appreciated and underrated trainers in the entire country. The man can train, and this one has the kind of talent that could propel both of them back into the spotlight soon. Love the last work and like the rider switch. Kearny Country (1) ran a good one on debut, closing late at Keeneland going 7 furlongs. With a little better break, this one could be tough at the wire. Rail is hitting at .24% clip at this distance. Our Brisnet.com Stat of the Day. Go to Brisket.com for all your racing information. It’s the best in the biz. Mr. Classical (2) gets the blinkers on; gets the ultimate equipment change down below, and comes into this one as a beaten favorite last summer at Saratoga. Has been training very well for a trainer that can win (.16%) off this type of layup. Beware here. I bet the 9 to win/place/show and then box the 9-1-2. I key the 9 over/under all the numbers in two more. I’m on in with Buff. 

7th: 2-3-6-5-8-7-1…Rocking the Boat (2) has been competitive in the last two Stakes races one of which was Graded. Now, he drops back into allowance company and should be tough as a stalker/closer. Drops back to the sprint distance, where he was a tough beat second at 6 furlongs three back in February. Coming in off a short break, but trainer does hit with .17% at this type of break. Westfest (3) comes in for trainer Steve Asmussen off a solid win while racing in or near the lead. Last four races are super good and the trainer scores with .19% of those who won the last race. Jockey has hit with .23% of the last 107 mounts for this barn. Barry Lee (6) is coming in for the 2018 debut, but this trainer knows how to win and does well with layup types, too. Trainer super good here, too, and has been in four straight Stakes events (two Graded). The one to beat, for sure. I bet the 2-6 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exacta. I key the top 3 over the rest in a smaller version.

8th: 5-9-12-7-3-10-8-6-1-11…Serengeti (5) didn’t run well in the G2 Best Pal, and tired late in his 2018 debut for Bob Baffert’s Churchill Downs-based team. But he has returned to work very well here and picks up a jockey who has been working horses in the morning for assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. This one barely lost his debut run last year to a horse named Runaway Ghost, who dominated the Sunland Derby this year. Tough horse in a tough field. Will’s Pioneer (9) moves up after breaking the maiden the last time out, and that is never an easy task. But this one cost $500,000 at Keeneland September two years ago, and looks like he could develop into a real good one. May prove it today. Full of Run (12) is another one from the barn of Asmussen. He has not been out this year, but the connections thought enough of him to bump from a strong MSW win into the G1 Champagne last year. Trainer right along with his roommate above. I bet the 5 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in one exacta. I key the 5 over/under all the numbers listed in two more.

9th: 8-5-7-9-1-3-2-6-10…Messiah (8) has run four good ones in a row and just missed in the last try last time out. Has a win, a second and two thirds in those four efforts and a good work at Keeneland recently. Jockey is having a solid meet, too. Bantu (5) was hung wide in the last out and that may have compromised his normal late run. The two previous were solid, and he ran 4 lengths behind a recent Graded Stakes winner just four back. This one could add some real value to the mix. Dapper Sam (7) was claimed out of he last one when he won by 41/2 lengths. Trainer hits with .15% on the barn debut, but moves up against a tough field in here. I bet the 8-5 across the board and then box those two solidly. I key the 8-5 over/under all the rest of the numbers in two smaller versions.

All the Best & Good Luck / Gene