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

The Pick 4 of the Week will come from Ellis Park on Saturday, with the focus on the closing four races on the strong card. 

Race 6 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 1,3,4 with 4,9 with 5 with all ($36)

Race 6 – Optional Claiming

Nine sophomores will run 1 1/16 miles on the lawn to commence the play. #3 Exonerate (5-1) is my top pick, and I will make a win wager on the colt, but it’s too hard to single the son of Justify. One of two in the field for Brad Cox, the dark bay ran into a very sharp winner at Churchill in his 2026 debut and will move forward second time back with Torres up. 

#4 Zakinthos (7-2) and #1 Doctrine (6-1) will also make the ticket in the first leg. 

Race 7 – Maiden Special Weight

Eight juvenile colts and one gelding will speed 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt in the second portion of the wager. Wesley Ward’s #4 Tancho (7-2) is by 18% debut sire Army Mule and will run for an excellent two-year-old trainer. The $350,000 yearling purchase has a sibling who won at two and is training as if he’ll fire in his unveiling. 

Steve Asmussen’s #9 Subjugation (4-1) is a $395,000 Bee Jersey colt who will run for a fine 20% debut sire. The outside draw is another positive with Ramon Vazquez taking the reins. 

Race 8 – Dade Park Dash S. 

The feature on the afternoon will be run at 5 1/2 panels on the green, and I will single Greg Foley’s #5 Trouble Calling (2-1). The very good son of Dialed In was a daylight winner in his grassy bow in the allowance ranks at Churchill last time and is the class of the cast. The Donamire Farm homebred has a versatile running style and will be difficult to upend with Ben Curtis in the irons. 

Race 9 – Optional Claiming

An overflow field of 13 is entered for the finale, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the lawn. I have no solid opinion in the event and feel that at least nine of the contenders can win the race. The ‘all’ button will be utilized in the last leg as I search for value.