Ellis Park: Juvenile stakes picks for Aug. 15

A pair of stakes events for two-year-olds will be part of a huge day of racing at Ellis Park on Sunday. Five stakes races in total will be hosted at the Henderson, Kentucky, venue, and the two races for the youngsters have a lot of appeal to me. I will be siding with a pair of speedy sorts in the dashes.

Race 3 -- Ellis Park Debutante

Dirt sprint at seven panels for the fillies attracted a field of seven. There is a void of early pace in the affair, which leads me to believe that #4 Verylittlecents (2-1) will be live coming off of a wire-to-wire win on the surface last time out. Conditioned by Randy Morse, the bay daughter of Goldencents showed improvement in her second lifetime performance, and the $50,000 yearling purchase shows a pair of useful morning drills in the interim as well. I will run her up and down in a cast with little separation.

Wagers

• $20 win #4 Verylittlecents ($20)
• $2 exacta 4 with all ($12)
• $1 exacta all with 4 ($6)

Race 4 -- Ellis Park Juvenile

An intriguing field of seven prospects will go postward in the seven-eighths dash for the boys. I will seek another wire-to-wire winner in this spot with #2 Roger McQueen (9-2) for trainer Larry Rivelli. Purchased for $520,000 in the spring, the son of Unified stretches out following a five-furlong victory on the surface when making his second lifetime run. The February foal hasn’t earned huge Brisnet Speed figures to date, but I believe that he will take a leap forward and earn his initial stakes victory with Beschizza riding.

#4 Costa Terra (2-1) was a game winner over a sloppy surface here on debut for Asmussen. Gun Runner colt will appreciate the added ground in the heat as the potential post-time favorite. #5 Texas Red Hot (8-1) is a prime exotics player due to his fine turn of foot. The Morse charge graduated on the oval and at the distance most recently, and he will be doing his best work late. #7 Candy Landing (5-2) exits a try in the Sanford S. (G3) at Saratoga and will appreciate the class relief for Walsh.

Wagers

• $20 win #2 Roger McQueen ($20)
• $2 exacta key box 2 with 4,5,7 ($12)
• $1 trifecta key 2 with 4,5,7 ($6)