Pick 4 of the Week: Ellis Park Saturday, July 11

I really like the late Pick 4 sequence at Ellis Park on Saturday, which features a trio of maiden races and a turf sprint allowance event. 

Race 6 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 1,2,3,5,8 with 1,2 with 1,6,8 with 1,12 ($30)

Race 6 – Maiden Special Weight

Juveniles will dash 5 1/2 panels in the challenging opening leg. I’ll spread to get things started in what appears to be a very competitive tilt with #1 Pride Rock (5-1), #2 Admiral’s Order (9-2), #3 Honkey Tonking (6-1), #5 Groundswell (4-1), and #8 Retrade (8-1). 

Race 7 – Maiden Special Weight

Ten sophomores will run one mile on the dirt in the second portion of the sequence. Dale Romans’ #1 Find No Fault (3-1) has been sprinting with some sharp horses in advance of his local bow and is well perched on the rail for his route debut. The three-year-old son of Blame is bred for the trip and could be clear early with a clean break from the gate under Corrales. 

#2 Stellenbosch (4-1), a seven-figure son of Tapit from the barn of Bob Baffert, overcame a poor break from the gate to rally and finish a clear second to a smart winner at Churchill in a six-furlong dash. The youngster will appreciate the added ground on Saturday with Martin Garcia in the controls. I feel good going two deep in the contest. 

Race 8 – Allowance

A full field of males will speed 5 1/2 furlongs on the lawn. #8 Tamino (10-1) will make his first run since being claimed for $50,000 in May and is my value play in the field. The Candy Ride colt ran a pair of good ones on the grass in California to commence his career, and the colt could relish the return to the green with Brian Hernandez, Jr. on board. 

#6 Magic Brew (6-1), one of two in the field for Greg Foley, ran into a tough field off the shelf in Louisville last time and will go better in this spot. He has improved his Brisnet Speed rating in each run to date and will be closer to the tempo beneath Beschizza. #1 Master of Light (10-1) cuts back after facing nice fields going long in two straight this season and might thrive with the distance change in this heat at a nice price. 

Race 9 – Maiden Optional Claiming

A full cast is entered in the six-furlong tilt on the dirt to close out the card, and the play. #1 Bon Voyage (6-1) was a nice second at first asking at Churchill and is an obvious inclusion for Mike Maker. 

The John Ennis-trained #12 Trim Castle (4-1) has placed in two straight, leading up to the finale, and will not need much improvement to graduate with Danny Sheehy inheriting the mount.