Pick 3 of the Week: Ellis Park Indedpendence Day

The Pick 3 of the Week will come from Ellis Park on Friday, during the second day of the meeting. A pair of fun maiden races will sandwich the feature in the closing three-race sequence. 

Race 7 Wager

• $1 Pick 3: 1,6,8,9 with 3,8 with 4,8,9,10 ($32)

Race 7: Maiden Special Weight

A 5 1/2-furlong dash for juveniles will get the wager started with 11 prospects set to go postward. The super competitive heat has two each from the barns of Mark Casse and Steve Asmussen, as well as a few other expensive youngsters bred to be live at first asking.  

#1 Western Warrior (4-1) and #9 Misinformation (5-1), both trained by Casse and by exciting young sire Essential Quality, will make the ticket. Asmussen’s #6 Strong Potential (9-2) will have the returning Tyler Gaffalione in the silks and is by sharp freshman sire Yaupon, while his stablemate, #8 Throttle (8-1), is kin to a two-year-old graduate. 

Race 8: Dade Park Dash

Sophomores will dash 5 1/2 panels on the green in the feature. #3 Rolando (6-1), who captured the Hutcheson S. on the main oval two prior, looks like the one to catch in the event. The Vekoma colt will be sent from the break by Julien Leparoux. 

Dual stakes victor #8 Chasing Liberty (7-2) is arguably both the class and best closing type in the group, and he will be very dangerous if the leaders back up inside the final furlong for Rob Atras. 

Race 9: Maiden Special Weight

The closing piece of the play is a one-mile tilt on the lawn for the boys, with an oversubscribed field of 16 in the mix. Mike Maker’s #4 Swirling Eights (3-1) has been runner-up in three of four lifetime runs on the green and is quite logical in the finale. The Twirling Candy colt ran a winning race in defeat last time and will be forwardly placed throughout under Brian Hernandez, Jr. 

#8 Ritual (12-1) and #9 Five Star Love (12-1) will both try the lawn after sprinting on the dirt at first asking, and I feel that both have merit to be included in the tilt. Chad Brown’s first timer #10 Gold Sovereign (8-1) wouldn’t be a major surprise with Tyler Gaffalione in the stirrups.