Final Version: McLean’s Selections for Churchill Downs on Thursday, June 25 – The Pressbox

Day Results10 / 4-5-52020 Overall 717717 / 255-236-279Win % of Top Pick35.56%Payoff % of Top 3 Picks Overall35.80%2020 Top Pick in the Money 455-71763.46%Top Selection ITM / CD Spring-Summer: 136-21962.10%Top Selection Win / CD Spring-Summer: 76-21934.70%Key Horses @ CD Spring-Summer:26-11-6-542.31% Win / 84.62% ITMKey Horses in 2020 99-34-23-1534.34% Win / 72.73% ITM

(Gene & LA at the Eagles Nest on KY Lake. Just happy the dock didnt plummet into the water while we were there)

Here we go. Big week of racing at Churchill Downs which will feature the G2 Stephen Foster and a host of other Stakes events this coming Saturday.

Dont you wish now that we could go and watch?

There will be Midnight Bisou and Serengeti Empress two of the best fillies and mares in the entire world running here.

There will be Toms dEtat, By My Standards and Owendale competing three major contenders for Breeders Cup races in November racing right here.

There will be two of the best Stakes events for the 2YOs being conducted here.

Yet, we cant go to see.

But, we can go to TwinSpires.com to bet.

First things first, though, and we will kick start things on Thursday.

Heres a closer look and our selections:

1st: 1-5-2/4-3-7-6Our Secret Agent (1)draws the rail for this tricky 7-furlong event, where the horses start up the shoot. Must either break well and move out to get the gap, or take back and get an angle through the gap. Tough spot to draw the rail. Plus, the HOF trainer is a meager 1-for-30 this meet. Does have 5 seconds and 2 thirds. If not for the rail and the cold stats this meet, this one might figure more prominently. But you have to be a bit skeptical here.Gold Button (5)will be making the career debut for a barn operator that has gone 3-1-2 in just 10 starts this meet. Only wins with .07% of those debuting in the MCL ranks, though, and that does throw a bit of cold water on the impulse. Is training well and the jockey has won with .40% of the last 5 starts for this barn. Take note.Better With Age (2)will be making the first career start for a new barn operation. They hit with .14% of those making the debut. Two races back, this one ran a huge one over the sandy grass course of Gulfstream Park. That effort could be good enough here today. Love the rider switch.I bet the 5-2 take note across the board and then box the top 3 in oneexacta. I will key the top 3 over/under the 4-3 in two smaller units.

2nd: 6-1-7/5-2/3Magine (6)is a 3YO daughter of Tapiture and goes for a barn that has been red hot of late. Over the last two weeks, the trainer/jockey combo have teamed up to go 5-1-4 in the last 12 races. Barn is up to a .20% win rate this meet and the work here on June 4 was spot on. Looks good in this spot.Gone Glimmering (1)is another from the barn of Tom Amoss. This one has been running in Stakes races for much of her career. Now, she drops into the claiming ranks for the first time. Barn hits with .23% of those. Gets the blinkers, too. Barn hits with .21% of those, too. Team Amoss looks salty in this one.I bet the 6-1 across the board and then box the top 3 in one exacta. I will key the 6-1 over/under the 7-5-2-3 in two smaller units.

3rd: 6-8/3-1-2/5-4This is the first grass event of the day and I will give the edge toZabava (6),who comes from the barn of Mike Maker. Won the last time out and this barn hits with .29% of those trying to repeat in the claiming ranks. Work at the CD Training Center on June 19 was spot on, too. Gets a huge rider switch and looks the best here. Could be much the best.Foxtail (8)drops into the claiming ranks after facing much tougher and will make the 2020 debut here, too. Barn hits with .18% of those away from the races this long. Gets a top lawn rider in the irons today. Dam of this one has 2 turf winners from 3 starters. Pedigree is there.I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then box the 6-8 in one exacta. I will key the 6 over/under all the numbers listed in two smaller units.

4th: 5-2/6-4-7-3/1Galindo (5)has only 1 win in 16 lifetime tries. Not good. But the 4YO gelding does have 5 seconds and 3 thirds to add to the resume. Good. Drops to a career low price tag here and in 6 tries over this track? Has 5 seconds. May not be able to win, but most likely to run good in this bunch.Holy Muchacho (2)was nominated to the Triple Crown, for goodness sakes. Now, he is offered up for $20,000. Ran a solid second here on June 4. Meets top rider takes the reins again. Could be a tough out with a better trip today.I bet the 5 across theboard and then box the 5-2 in one exacta. I will key the 5 over/under the all button here.

5th: 7-9-5/8-1/6-4-3Digital Star (7)will be making the first start for a new barn operator after being claimed last time out. Bumps up a couple of price rungs after the acquisition, but could be tough in this spot today. Over the last six starts, this 3YO son of The Factor has 3 seconds and 2 thirds. May be his day today. Barn wins with .33% on the first race after a claim.Zapper Van Winkle (9)has not run since last July. But the barn hits with .20% of those away from the race a long time, and this one drops to the MCL ranks today, too. Barn hits with .30% of those kind. Gets a steady hand on the reins today.Jack Luvs Nova (5)will make the career debut here for a barn that wins with .20% of those running for the first time in a MCL event. Has been training well and the sire gets .16% winners in the inaugural race. Dam of this one has a winner from 2 starters. Pedigree is there to produce a winner first out.I bet the 7 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in the exacta. I will key the 7 over/under all the numbers listed in two smaller units.

6th: 7-3-(11)/2-1-4-(12)/8-9/10-6-5Angel of Mischief (7)is a 5YO daughter of Into Mischief and a daughter of a Stakes winner, too. Dam has produced 2 turf winners from 6 starters. Drops into the claiming ranks for the first time for a young trainer looking for his first win of this meet after 13 tries. Gets a top grass rider up for the assignment and if this one can find the groove again, then watch out.Fancified (3)has a win in only race at this distance and has 2 wins in 3 tries over the sod. Looks like the last race was a debacle, but the two before were spot on. Gets the meets top rider back this time. Watch out.I bet the 7-3 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exacta. I will key the 7-3 over/under the 11-2-1-4-12-8-9 in two smaller units.

7th: 5-7/4-3-1/2-6Figure It Out (5)moves up a couple of notches in the claiming game after a near-miss second last time out. Lost by a nose in that one and the show horse came right back to win the next outing. This will be the 2nd start off a layup, and the barn hits with .22% of those. Big shot here.High Regard (7)has only 2 wins in the 16 starts, but seems to be close at the wire in a lot of others. Barn still looking for the first win of the meet, and the switch in riders here could definitely boost the chances although he is 0-for-10 with this barn over the last 60 days. Will be coming late and will need some racing luck and racing room.I bet the 5 to win/place/show and then key the 5 over/under all the numbers listed in the exactas.

8th: 3-1/9-7/8-5/2-4/6Mucho (3)is a 4YO son of Blame and will carry the home colors of Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider who just so happened to breed this one, as well. In 13 starts, he has put together an impressive resume of 3 wins, 4 seconds and 2 thirds. Has earned nearly $300,000. Just missed last time out at GP, and is eligible to improve in the 2nd start off the layup. Barn hits with .17% of those.Bourbon Calling (1)has not been sharp in two starts this year. But this one has raced over this track 7 times and has 3 wins and 2 thirds. In 10 starts at this distance, he has a 3-1-4 mark. Look for more with the return to home and he caught a really, really good field last time out. The runner-up in that allowance is a G1 winner, mind you.I bet the 3-1 across the board and then box those 2 in the exacta. I will key the 3-1 over/under the rest of the numbers listed in two smaller units.

9th: 9-8/10-3-(12)-1/(14)-5-2-7/6-4The final race of the day is a turf event for the MSW ranks. Ill go to the outside and land onFlabbergasted (9)in what promises to be a fun and wide open affair. This 3YO daughter of Uncle Mo looked to have a big chance last time out here on May 17. Finished 2nd in the first race losing the shades. Winner of that one came right back to win again. So, this one must have caught a good one. This filly also cost $350,000 as a yearling and could be a tough out in this spot today. Graduation day? Could be.Daddymademedoit (8)has raced 11 times with 2 seconds and 3 thirds. Has hit the board in each of the last three outings. Winner two races back came right back to win again the next time out. Will be coming extremely late in the proceedings and will need some racing room and luck. Rider is ice cold here and has not won in 5 rides for this barn, to date. May need some more luck. I bet the 9 across the board and then key the 9 over/under the all button.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene

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Final Version: McLean's Selections for Churchill Downs on Thursday, June 25 - The Pressbox