2021 Ellis Park Derby and Audubon Oaks selections

Two of the handful of black type events hosted by Ellis Park will be for sophomores, led by the feature when the boys will go 1 1/8 miles in the Ellis Park Derby.

Race 5 -- Audubon Oaks

Seven sophomore fillies will go postward in the seven-furlong affair. This is a very hard race for me to settle on just a single filly in the cast. #5 Caribbean Caper (9-5) is 3-for-3 while registering a blowout win on each occasion for conditioner Al Stall. The dark bay daughter of Speightstown aired over allowance foes on the strip last time out, but I can’t single her due to the fact that she shows decreasing Brisnet Speed figures in advance of her toughest assignment to date.

#4 Magic Quest (2-1) appears to be starting to find her groove for Rusty Arnold. The bay daughter of Nyquist has led at every call in two straight, which includes a facile tally on this oval in her debut with winners most recently She faces better on Sunday, but the Kentucky-bred is surely trending in the right direction. I give her an honest chance under Brian Hernandez Jr.

Wagers

• $20 exacta 5 with 4 ($20)
• $10 exacta 4 with 5 ($10)

Ellis Park Derby

Just six will go postward in the $200,000 test for the boys. Arkansas Derby (G1) upsetter #2 Super Stock (9-5) is the obvious one to beat on class, but I will be siding with #6 Starrininmydreams (3-1) for conditioner Dallas Stewart. The bay son of Super Saver has faced tough company at the graded level in five straight and deserves to break through with a black type tally soon.

The Kentucky-bred colt has a good outside post to avoid traffic, as well as solid early presence, and I expect the capable three-year-old to receive a perfect voyage in his local bow. The top pick was flattered when Mr. Wireless, who defeated him in the Indiana Derby (G3), came back to win in his next assignment, too. Corey Lanerie picks up the mount.

Wagers

• $10 trifecta 6 with 2 with all ($40)
• $3 trifecta 6 with all with 2 ($12)