Ellis Park Spot Plays for Sunday, August 25

Race 4 – BLAME RO (#7) (7-2) Compromised by an extreme outside post and a very wide run on the turn for home, this three-year-old son of Blame ran deceivingly well in the debut. Adding blinkers for the follow-up start, he set the pace before evening out at the top of the stretch. He quickly tosses the blinkers aside, but is remains likely to be forwardly placed in a race that lacks speed. Single in multi-race wagers. Play with #3, #4 and #1 in gimmicks. Race 5 – ONE FOR RICHIE (#5) (9-2) It took him some time to find his niche and break his maiden, but he’s been in good form virtually the entire time. Compromised by the trip in a recent turf sprint, he stretches out to a 1 1/2-turn mile on dirt for this one. He meets a very average field for the level and should find himself in a perfect, stalking position throughout. Use in multi-race wagers. Win & triple place. Play with #2 and #6 in gimmicks. Race 6 – AMAZIMA (#8) (7-5) Rank early fresh off the bench in just her second career start two starts back over a yielding Churchill Downs turf, she ran on willingly to the wire behind a 21-1 overlay winner. Live on the tote in her follow-up start on the Ellis Park green, she ran a big race, only to finish third behind a talented winner. She fired a bullet work since and looms squarely as the one to beat. Single in multi-race wagers. Play with #6, #7 and #3 in gimmicks. Race 8 – CAPTURE THE GLORY (#3) (20-1) Massively improved in recent starts, he seems to have found his niche sprinting on turf. The game winner of a grassy dash two back at Indiana Grand, he ran better than it looks in a recent stakes caliber allowance at Churchill Downs. Off slowly losing four lengths, he also ran into some traffic trouble nearing the turn. He fired a bullet work in preparation for this and should offer a fair enough price. Use in multi-race wagers. Win, place & show ladder. Play with all in gimmicks. Race 9 – MERLIN’S SONG (#3) (3-1) Ran a winning race two back on turf, but finished clearly second best behind a solid winner. Finished willingly last out, but he was forced to close into a pedestrian pace. With a similar effort and a fair trip, he should graduate in this one. Single in multi-race wagers. Play with #9, #10, #6 and #7 in gimmicks. PHOTO: Ellis Park (c) Coady Photography/Ellis Park