Ellis Park: Picks for two tournaments, $4,290 Super High 5

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for a Super High 5 carryover and a pair of TwinSpires.com tournaments involving the Saturday card at Ellis Park.

$4,290 Super High 5 carryover

The opening race at Ellis Park is a $30,000 maiden claimer in which a $4,290 Super High 5 carryover is up for grabs.

Race 1 is a 5 1/2-furlong dirt dash for juveniles. We favor the chances of #2 Compressed (2-1). He’s run twice at Churchill Downs, finishing a pacesetting fifth in a maiden special weight and a rallying third in a $40,000 maiden claimer.

Dropping down to the $30,000 level should put Compressed in win contention for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who strikes at a 20% rate in maiden claimers.

#5 Red Speedo (9-2) is another serious contender. He finished only a neck behind Compressed after carving out the pace in the above-mentioned $40,000 maiden claimer. A top-two finish while descending to the $30,000 level is a strong possibility.

Here’s how we’ll bet the Super High 5:

• Race 1, $1 Super High 5: 2 with 5 with 3,4,6,7 with 3,4,6,7 with ALL ($48)

Two TwinSpires.com tournaments

The Saturday card at Ellis Park is the focus of two enticing tournaments on TwinSpires.com. The $320 Ellis Park Bonus Feeder to 7/20 Woodbine BCBC Qualifier tournament awards entries into the July 20 $800 Woodbine BCBC Qualifier on TwinSpires.com, while the $100 Ellis Park Challenge tournament boasts cash prizes.

Both races require betting your entire bankroll across at least five races at Ellis Park. For the Bonus Feeder tournament, you must bet at least $16 in a given race for it to count toward the five-race minimum.

Super High 5 wagers aren’t eligible for tournament play, but if you want to get started in Race 1, consider betting Compressed over Red Speedo in a cold exacta:

• Race 1, $16 Exacta: 2 with 5

Another appealing tournament play can be found in Race 3, a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for juveniles. #10 Clocker Special (9-2) debuted with a third-place finish in a deep 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. The winner, Obliteration, returned to win Saratoga’s Sanford (G3) by 10 1/2 lengths, while runner-up Curtain Call came back to smash a Saratoga maiden special weight by 8 1/2 lengths.

Clocker Special is trained by Rodolphe Brisset, whose modest win rate with first-time starters (12% over the last few years) jumps to a lofty 29% with second-time starters. If Clocker Special improves as expected off his respectable debut against fierce competition, he’ll surely be tough to beat in his second start.

If Clocker Special’s morning-line odds hold up, tournament players should consider placing a large win bet on the son of Not This Time.

• Race 3: $30 to win on #10 Clocker Special

Good luck!