Ellis Park Spot Plays for Saturday, July 6

by Joe Kristufek Race 1 – TOUCH BLUE (#4) (5-1 ML) An Allied Racing Stable homebred, this three-year-old daughter of Touch Gold drops to the basement for her third career start. She faced full fields in her first two outings, and a poor start compromised her chances big time last out. She rushed up to battle the pace before tiring that day, and now faces a weak field for her grass debut. The dark bay miss has some turf influences on the dam’s side of the pedigree, and owner Chester Thomas, of By My Standards and Mr. Money fame, loves winning races at his home track, Ellis Park. Race 3 – SNUCK OUT (#8) (7-2 ML) This $500,000 daughter of Into Mischief is cut out to be a dirt horse, but she’s proven to be much better on turf. The four-year-old has really stepped up her game and is even better than she looks on paper, having been compromised in recent turf starts at both Keeneland and Churchill. The even effort over the Arlington Polytrack darkens her form, but it shouldn’t be held against her one bit. She posted a useful work between starts, and should fire a huge shot back on grass here. Race 5 – DIRECT APPROACH (#10) (15-1 ML) There’s no question the Brad Cox-trained Dream Halo is the one to beat on the drop, but this sophomore gelding is likely to be overlooked in this spot while headed in the right direction and is worth considering in the gimmicks. Two back he finished fourth over seven furlongs behind a runaway winner in what was a deep race for the maiden $20K level, and last out he gutted out third on the rise over a one-turn Churchill Downs mile. I like the way the bay son of Congrats sustained his bid to the wire in both of those outings, and a seven-pound bug break in the weights with capable apprentice rider Declan Carroll aboard can only help his chances. Race 9 – CALIENTE CANDY (#5) (5-1 ML) and DESTINY’S DARLING (#3) (15-1 ML) After losing a narrow decision to the very talented With Dignity on May 11, Dos Vinos turned heads with a romping maiden score at second asking. She’s squarely the one to beat here, but there a couple of viable alternatives. Claimed for $15,000 in February at Fair Grounds, Caliente Candy has been quite the find for her current connections. She’s more than legitimized herself against allowance company, and a recent fifth place finish in a deep and talented field at Churchill Downs is better than it looks on paper. The longshot Destiny’s Darling completely turned her fortunes around two starts back at Indiana Grand and she proved that effort was no fluke with a narrow miss behind a game winner last out at Churchill Downs. She’s posted a pair of sharp works since and should sit an advantageous trip behind the speed here. PHOTO: Ellis Park (c) Coady Photography/Ellis Park