Pick 3 of the Week: Ellis Park Saturday

The Pick 3 of the Week will come from Ellis Park on Saturday, which features two turf sprints and a dash on the main oval. 

Race 6 – Maiden Special Weight

Juvenile fillies will speed 5 1/2 panels on the weeds in the first leg of the play. Each of the three morning-line favorites are expensive purchases from top barns, and I have a good level of confidence that at least one of these will be precocious. #2 Love a Little Mo (9-2) was a $675,000 yearling and has trained well in advance of her unveiling. The Brian Lynch pupil will have Mario Gutierrez on board. 

#9 Humor Me Baby (5-2) brought $300,000 as a yearling and is bred to like the surface being by good turf influence Munnings. Mark Casse’s #11 Queen Juno (7-2) fetched a final bid of $260,000, and the daughter of exciting freshman sire Yaupon is cut out to be a one-turn runner. The April foal has trained in swift fashion and will have Christian Torres in the silks. 

Race 7 – Claiming

Fillies and mares will speed six panels on the dirt in the middle piece of the sequence. A total of eight ladies are set to go postward, and I am not overly confident in any runner in the wide-open heat. #3 Hand it Over (12-1) might be the best value in the field for trainer Ryan Walsh. Temple City filly has improved since joining this outfit two back, led by a dominant maiden win at Churchill Downs last time, and the four-year-old also possesses good early foot, as well. Luan Machado will ride. 

#1 Casilda (3-1), #2 She’s No Angel (5-2), and #4 Itwillbefun (5-1) will also be added to the ticket. 

Race 8 – Allowance

A 5 1/2-furlong dash on the lawn for fillies and mares will conclude the wager. #4 Mendela (3-1) was bet down from a big morning-line number in the Eight Belles S. (G2) at Churchill Downs in her initial run with winners and came home a commendable fourth while facing a deep cast. Chris Hartman's pupil is a half-sister to 2022 Schuylerville S. (G3) winner Just Cindy, and her other sibling was a winner on the lawn. I think she will love the grass under Brian Hernandez, Jr. 

Two speedy fillies coming back off of layoffs – Wesley Ward’s #6 Caribbean Wind (9-2) and the Brendan Walsh-trained #12 Isle of Capri (4-1) – will also be added for insurance. 

Race 6 Wager

$1 Pick 3: 2,9,11 with 1,2,3,4 with 4,6,12 ($36)