Scully: Playing Ellis Park’s Late Pick 3 Sunday, Aug. 2

Part of the Summer Showcase Weekend, Sunday’s 10-race program at Ellis Park will feature five turf stakes. The final three stakes have attracted at least 12 entrants. I will take a swing at the late Pick 3 sequence.

Here is my late Pick 3 ticket, analysis of races below.

Late Pick 3 Ticket (Races 8-10)

$3 Pick 3: 5,11 with 3,6,7,12, with 4,12 ($48)

Race 8 – Turf Sprint

#5 Mondogetsbuckets (8-1) looks primed for his best following a good second to Dornoch in a Horseshoe Indianapolis stakes. He won’t have to face that rival, and Umberto Rispoli (25% win rate from last 63 turf starts) will pick up the mount. Moongetsbuckets stretches back to a favored 5 1/2-furlong distance and is well-drawn to the outside of speedy Joe Sheisty. I’ll also use #11 Troubleshooting (5-2), who likes the course and distance and exits a fast-closing third to Dornoch in a Churchill Downs stakes.

Race 9 – Sunkissed S.

Multiple Grade 2-placed at a mile, #3 Buttercream Babe (5-1) stretches back out following an encouraging turf sprint win at Churchill and will be running late with Yedsit Hazlewood. I give her the edge in this competitive event and will add #6 Smiling Ellie (10-1), #7 Medoro (3-1), and #12 In the Stars (4-1) to the ticket.

Race 10 – Green River Island S.

Grade 3 winner #4 Quatrocento (7-2) got the wrong trip last time; he’s better controlling the pace and has run well on Ellis’ turf. I like his chances on the front end. #12 Mercante (9-2) appears to be rounding back into form, finishing a close second to Lagynos in the Wise Dan (G2) last out, and he can use his speed to avoid being caught too wide on the first turn.