McLean’s Selections — With Comments — for Horseshoe Indianapolis on Indiana Champions Day — Saturday, Oct. 26

(Stats to be updated)

Here’s our looks for Saturday’s annual Indiana Champions Day program at the Midwest best-kept secret — Horseshoe Indianapolis.

If you want to have fun? Go to “The Shoe.”

If you want to have fun and watch Thoroughbred racing? Go to “The Shoe.”

If you want to make some money, have fun and watch Thoroughbred racing? Go to “The Shoe.”

If you like Quarter Horses on top of all that? Yep. Go to “The Shoe.”

Here’s our picks for the big day:

1st: 11-3/6-1/4-5/7//8-9-10…Mansfield Tiger (11) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter on this marvelous day of Indiana-bred championship racing activities at “The Shoe.” This 5YO comes in off a win at this “bargain bin” level and has a tidy record of 5-2-0 in 15 starts over this strip. Trainer is having a nice year and he wins with .25% of the last 77 to have won the last race, as well. Logical pick here. Sudden Shift (3) could be a “Upset Special of the Day,” with a little luck. This 6YO has won two in a row against open company and ships in from Ohio for this one. Gets a top veteran rider to take the mount and could be a spoiler alert. I bet the 11-3 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 11-3 over/under the 6-1-4-5-7 in two smaller units. 

2nd: 1-5-2///3-6/4…This is a 5.5-furlong sprint for the handicap mares and I line up with Ekati Flatter (1). This one has run 17 times here in the career and as a record of 6-4-3. That is 13 hits in 17 tries. Not bad. Gets a rider who has been up for the last 6 outings and has a win, two runner-ups and a couple more thirds in that span. Will be coming late and needs a speed build up. The Kid Pataky (5) is also entered in the 3YO filly Stakes — The Lady Fog Horn Stakes — a bit later in the day. I expect a scratch here against the older gals. But she has the speed to be dangerous at this distance. She prefers the sprints to the routes, it appears. E’s Magic (2) is 2-for-3 at this sprint distance, with a third thrown in. Will be right on the timer throughout, but can also rally to pounce. Could be right there in this one. Beat our top pick just three starts ago and finished ahead of the top one in the Checkered Flag Stakes earlier this year. A race won by none other than our own Diamond Solitaire. Oh well. I bet the 1 across the board and then key the 1 over/under the 5-2 in the exactas. 

3rd: 4-5//7/1/2-6…Kim Hammond Overnight Handicap…Latigo (4) gets the nod here. This 5YO son of Jimmy Creed has 3 wins and 2 seconds in 5 starts at this distance and gets a red hot rider up in Joe Ramos. The rider as teamed up with this trainer to go 2-1-1 in the last 6 starts. Nice. Only subpar finish came against open company three starts ago. Look out here. Molly’s Town (5) is the other prohibitive favorite in the ML and looks to have a real shot here, too. In 4 starts at this distance, he has 3 wins. Has gone a perfect 9-for-9 in the money here, as well. Got to use. Right? I bet the 4 across the board and then hammer lock the 4-5 exacta box.

4th: 7-3-8/9/10-11/6/4…Indiana Stallion Stakes Purse…This is a 6-furlong sprint for the 2YO fillies and I like Spooky Ridge (7), who is a nice 6-1 in the Brisnet.com ML. This one broke the maiden last time out and did so impressively. Moves up, but the trainer is having a superb year and wins with .14% in the non-Graded Stakes ranks. Gets a world-class rider here and should be a tough out. The Flint Express (3) is a whopping 20-1 in the ML and is another “Upset Special” on the day. Toss the last one when she was bumped at the start and couldn’t make the lead. She wants to own the pace and that may be difficult here. But if she does? Look out. At 20-1, I’m willing to take a chance. Molly’s Potion (8) is the ML favorite and could be as good as advertised. But the trainer is 1-1-0 in 6 starts here and has only 7 starts on the year. Ugh. I bet the 7-3 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 7-3 over/under the 8-9-10-11-6 in two smaller units. 

5th: 5-8-10/12-(14)-7-1/11-6-9/2…Crown Ambassador Stakes…This is the male version of the previous event and features the best 2YOs of the year. I go with Mondavila (5). This one goes for trainer Randy Klopp, who has had a terrific year up at “The Shoe.” Has won with .17% of 298 starters and this rider has been super hot of late, going 5 wins in the last 11 chances. Has won with .33% of the last 15 for this barn. Look out here. Slam Dunk Justice (8) could pose a problem in here, though. . This one has made 5 starts this year. Just one win, but has hit the board in 4 of those. Lone miss was two starts ago against a salty bunch. Has early speed and gets a rider who has had a very solid meet. I bet the 5 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the 5 over/under the 8-10-12-14-7-1-11 in two smaller units. 

6th: 3-9/5/4/7/2-6//1…Lady Fog Horn Stakes…If The Kid Pataky (3) goes here, the only real burning question is whether or not she can get the 1 mile & 70 yards distance without burning herself up. She is a sprinter. Loves to sprint. And, does it well. But can she stretch out? She’s been out 11 times in the first two years. Never two turns. A serious question. Crosleyt (9) can definitely got the route. And, she is all class, too. Three starts. Three wins. And, she’s damn good. I go with the 9 across the board and double/triple down on the win wager. I key the 9 over/under the 3-5-4-7-2-6 in the exactas. More with the 3-5-4 than the rest.

7th: 3-4-12/10-8/11-(13)/1…Unreachable Star Handicap…This is a Stakes event named for one of the best Indiana-bred horses that my friends, David and Lori Hebel-Osborne have ever raised and raced. It’s a class race and has a classy field. I go with Hoosier Daddy Now (3). This 3YO son of Charming Kitten comes in without a win since July 6. But it sure appears that he woke up some last time out. Look at the comment line. “Blocked at the 1/2.” If free to roam, this one may have romped. Worth a shot here, for me. Kingsbury Road (4) is a solid 3YO , too. Won easily here the last time out and as the odds-on choice. But has only one win in 4 tries at this distance. That’s a dent for me. Unbridled Slope (12) could rally late to surprise them all here, as well. Must use for me. Has 4 wins in 11 tries here. But? 0-0-0 in 3 tries at this distance. I bet the 3 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I will box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will also key the 3 over/under the 4-12-10-8-11-13 in two smaller units. 

The rest of the card includes Stakes races for the Quarter Horses.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene