Pick 4 of the Week: Ellis Park Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025

Part 2 of the Kentucky Downs Preview Day will be held at Ellis Park on Sunday, and I will take aim at the all-stakes Pick 4 to close out the card. 

Race 7 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 1,7,10 with 1,7,9 with 3,4,10 with 2,7 ($27)

Race 7 – Turf Cup Preview

The opening leg has attracted 10 to travel 1 1/4 miles on this course. #1 Highway Robber (9-5) looms large from the fence for Brian Lynch. The Hard Spun gelding annexed the race last season and has a fine draw with Christian Torres on board. 

Lynch’s #7 Anglophile (9-2) was close in the race last year, and while he doesn’t win much, the chestnut has some class to him. #10 Ole Crazy Bone (15-1) was claimed for a hefty $100,000 in June and could pay instant dividends for trainer Mike Maker. The gelding has a chance at a big price with Jaime Torres up.  

Race 8 – Ladies Turf Mile Preview

A well-matched field of nine fillies and mares will vie in the second leg of the play. The one-mile affair is difficult for me to narrow down to just a single contender, so multiple horses will be added to the ticket. Distaff Turf Mile (G2) queen #1 Simply in Front (3-1) looks like the one to beat for Kenneally, but is a hard single in my opinion. 

#7 Austere (5-1), one of two in the cast for trainer Brendan Walsh, has very good current form and was also a winner in her lone prior run at this venue. The late runner will have Tyler Gaffalione in the stirrups. #9 She’s Lookin Lucky (9-2) was a close third in the tilt in 2024 and has run a pair of good ones off the shelf in advance of Sunday. Brian Hernandez, Jr. will guide the tactical mare. 

Race 9 – Pucker Up S. (G3)

The 1 1/8-mile affair for sophomore fillies attracted a nice cast, and I will use a few of the ladies in the field. #3 Destino d’Oro (3-1) is a head shy of being unbeaten from a trio of lifetime tries to date and is a must-use for conditioner Brad Cox. The bay filly possesses a fine closing kick and will be hard to fend off late under Machado. 

Tepin S. runner-up #4 Princess Attitude (9-2), and Regret S. (G3) third #10 Hereforagoodtime (4-1), will also be included. 

Race 10 – Turf Sprint Preview

A full field of 12 will go postward in the closing piece. 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) victor #7 Nobals (5-2) is the class of the field and will be tough with anything close to his best showing for Larry Rivelli. The Noble Mission six-year-old will be prominent from the break under the red-hot Tyler Gaffalione. 

Vickie Oliver’s #2 Mo Stash (15-1) was a closing third in the race last season and will make his yearly debut on this occasion. The five-year-old son of Mo Town won the last time he came back off a long break, and he has won or placed in every local run to date. He will sit off the contested pace to the top of the lane.