Ellis Park Pick 4 Play for Aug. 9

The last stakes-laden program of the 2026 Ellis Park meet on Sunday is a good one, with attractive opportunities from a multi-race wager standpoint. I’ll be looking to snare the first Pick 4 offering on the day, which begins in Race 2.

Pick 4

• 50-cent ticket: 4,5,7,12,15 with 4,10 with 2,6 with 1,12 = $20

Race 2: Maiden, 1:19 p.m. ET

Among the trio of second-time starters, perhaps #4 Mood Spin (12-1) might be the one eligible to show the most improvement. Debuting June 20 at Churchill, she raced terribly wide down the backside before finishing in midpack. The five-length winner, Stress Relief, came back last weekend to capture the Adirondack (G3). Mood Spin got a little play on debut, and the extra two furlongs might work to her advantage. I’d also include #7 Miss Anna (6-1), a rallying second first out last month for the hot Brendan Walsh barn.

Among the debut runners, #5 I’mgunningforyou (9-2) is a full brother to the precocious Guns Loaded, while #12 Codified (7-2) is a Godolphin homebred by 15% debut sire Constitution and also trained by Walsh. Deep on the AE list is #15 Getaway Girl (8-1), whose second dam was juvenile filly champion Take Charge Brandi, herself a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach.

Race 3: Allowance, 1:48 p.m. ET

#4 Our Starry Night (5-1) was dueled into defeat at this level last time at Churchill but might not have to run so fast in the early stages here and perhaps is the one they’ll have to catch if that proves the case. #10 Step Forward (3-1) belatedly won for the first time on grass over $50,000 claimers and is confidently hiked in class by Mark Casse, who has a solid record off the claim from a limited sample.

Race 4: Ellis Park Juvenile, 2:16 p.m. ET

#2 Sargent Bilko (9-2) rallied impressively to win an auction maiden at the start of the Churchill spring meet but was outrun after a slow start in the Bashford Manor S. He remains with upside, and the addition of blinkers might help keep him closer in a race where the pace flow might work to his advantage.

#6 Salahudin (2-1), a debut winner for Bob Baffert, might be overbet on that fact but had the look of an emerging talent with a stalk-and-pounce score by two lengths.

Race 5: Groupie Doll S., 2:44 p.m. ET

#2 Cash Call (9-5) is one of the apparent class fillies of the field, having taken last year’s Summertime Oaks (G3) and losing only to Grade 1 winner Kilwin in the Twin Bridges S. last out. #1 Queen Atzeca (7-2) is also a Group 3 veteran and found only Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Good Cheer better than her in the Iowa Distaff last time.