(Stats to be updated after Horseshoe Indianapolis’ cards on Monday and Tuesday)

Here’s our looks for “The Shoe” on this Stakes Day card:

1st: 6-5/1/4/2-3…Meltdown (6) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter on this Wednesday at “The Shoe” near Indy. This 5YO Indiana-bred gelding comes in off an impressive and easy win last time out here on Aug. 15. Has speed. Can use it early and often. Will be the one to catch. Chase Tracker (4) picks up a huge rider switch and the meet’s leading jockey for this occasion. Has won two in a row in Cincy and now takes his talent on the road. Barn wins with .50% of the last 4 to drop off a victory and win .19% when it wins the last race. Threat. I bet the 6-5 across the board and then box those two in the exactas. I will key the 6-5 over/under the 1 in two smaller units.

2nd: 5-12-7/6-9/2-11-10/3-4-8…Band of Roses (5) ran huge in the debut and then fired a blank in the stretch out to a route. Returns to a sprint here and that may help this 3YO daughter of Wicked Strong. Look for more here. Tap the Line (12) gets a new rider and returns as a beaten favorite for this effort. Barn wins with .24% of the last 70 to return as a beaten fan’s choice. Can close and will be running late. Her Way (7) could spice up the odds rack here. Has been consistent in the first two and should offer some late dramatics, as well. Chance. I bet the 5-7 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 6-9 in two smaller units. 

3rd: 5-2-4/(13)/(12)-(14)-(11)/3-6/8-10/7-9…Morgan’s Bluff (5) ships in from Virginia for this one and the barn wins with .27% with those that are getting treated with Lasix for the 2nd time. New rider travels up from KY for this challenge. Winner two back just won at KY Downs, too. Look for this one to be on the muscle. Mystify (2) gets Lasix for the first time and could improve off the first try. Sharp work on Sept. 3 is a good sign and the barn gets a heady rider for this trip. Wave Skipper (4) goes for the 2nd time and this 2YO daughter of Lord Nelson ran well in Cincy in the debut try. If she improves any at all? Look out. I bet the 5-2 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 3-6 — if the AE List horses don’t draw in.

4th: 1-6/3-8-10-5/(12)-(13)-(14)/2-9/7…Solid Country Gold (1) drops to half the asking price from the last time out, and this 3YO gelding ran a competitive 3rd inn that one. Was claimed for this same price just two starts ago, when he won to break the MCL. Should fit nicely here for a barn that is aggressive in where it spots their horses. El Socio (6) has hit the board in each of the last 9 starts. Has hit the board in 9 of 12 career starts. Still? Only one win. Use in the mix, but softer on the win side. I bet the 1 across the board and then box the 1-6 in the exactas. I will key the 1-6 over/under the 3-8-10-5-2-9 in two smaller units. 

5th: 3/5-8/4-9/1-7/2-6…The first “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Fortin Hill (3). This 6YO veteran ran well after hitting the starting gate at Saratoga last time out. Before then? Hit the board in three in a row. Looks the best here and picks up the meet’s top rider for this opportunity. Trainer has gone 4-2-2 in just 16 starts this meet. Look out. I’m in. All in. I bet the 3 across the board and then double down on the win bet. I will key the 3 over the 5-8-4-9-1-7 in strength. I go smaller with the same numbers over the 3, too. 

6th: (12)/4-1-10/7-9/6/3-(11)/2-5…The second “Key  Play of the Day” will come here Chasing Rainbows (12) if this event comes off the turf and is converted to the main track. This one won impressively at Ellis Park in the last try and was 3rd against some good ones at Oaklawn Park back in early May. Has talent. Has worked his way back to you. Jump on board if this one gets in. If not? I convert to a spread race in the horizontals, led by Future Victory (4) on top. This 4YO son of Twirling Candy was claimed last time out when he ran 2nd for the 3rd time in a row. Has 2 wins and 3 seconds in 12 grass starts. Should fit here. Jeopardy Theory (1) is my “Upset Special of the Day”  if this one stays on the sod. The 3YO has run in 3 straight Stakes and now drops back into the allowance ranks here. Has speed and if he can get back to that tactic? Look out. I bet the 12 if he gets in. Solidly. Sternly. Over/Under the 4-1-10-7-9-6 in the exactas. If he does not get in? I bet the 4-1 across the board and then box the 4-1-10 in the exactas. I will key those 3 over/under the 7-9-6 in two smaller units. 

7th: 5-2/9-7/8-3/4-6…Empire Stakes…Mr Chaos (5) is a good one and it looks like the 3YO has now learned to carry his speed a distance of ground, too. If he improves at all in this effort? Off to the races. Look out. Starsspanledxpress (2) faced open company last time out an d plan well to be 2nd. Looks versatile and can run from any spot. Chance. I bet the 5 across the board and double down on the win bet. I box the 5-2 in the exactas. I will key the 5-2 over/under the 9-7-8-3 in two smaller units. 

8th: 7-10/8/5/4-9-11/3/1-6/2…Hoosier Heartland Stakes…I will be the first to admit that I am more than a little biased here. After all, why not? We — our team — owns Diamond Solitaire (10). She is listed at 12-1 by Brisnet.com in the ML, and I love those folks. They produce the only PPs that I utilize. But if they will book my bet, I have plenty of action at that number. We get the dirt. Finally. We get two turns. Finally. We get back to doing what we like to do. First time all year. Fireball Baby (7) is legit and I know those connections have been frustrated all year by the lack of long races on the dirt for the older horses, too. This will be here first start of the 2022 season. She may need one. I wish the connections luck. But I wouldn’t trade places with anyone. I like our horse. Scratch that. I love, love, love our horse in this spot. I bet the 10 across the board and then triple down on the win bet. I will box the 7-10 sternly in the exactas. Sternly. I will key the 10 over/under the 7-8-5-4-9-11 in two smaller units. 

9th: 4-8/5-9-7/10-2-3/1-6…Leader of the Class Sale Futurity Stakes…This Quarter Horse event is a Stakes race for the 2YOs, and I will line up with top trainer Randy Smith and his steed Piloted by An Angel (4). This one is undefeated after 4 tries and this one ran off in the last outing to capture the 350-yard sprint by nearly 3 lengths. That’s a ton in these types of races. Single for me. I bet the 4 across the board and double down on the win bet. I will box the 4-8 in the exactas. I will key the 4 over/under the 8-5-9-7 in two smaller units. 

10th: 3/(12)-(11)/7-9-1/6-10/4-8/5…The finale of the day is another QH event and I will single King of Woodbridge (3). This one has not won yet, but has hit the board in 3 of 5 outings. Has faced some stiff competition in the past, including the 3 races at Remington Park. Ships in here for this outing. Like his chances. I bet the 3 across the board and then key the 3 over/under the 12-11-7-9-1-6-10 in the exactas. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene

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