Sunday Stakes Value Plays for Ellis Park

Ellis Park will play host to a fantastic card on Sunday with a total of six stakes events on the slate.

Race 6 – Juvenile S.

Nine two-year-olds will travel seven dirt panels, and I have interest in both of the Brendan Walsh pupils in the heat. #2 Call Me Andy (8-5) was a smart debut winner beneath the Twin Spires prior to chasing lone speed and tiring to third in a stakes event on this oval most recently. The Midshipman colt has trained well as of late and will improve under Martin Garcia.

Walsh’s #3 Omex (15-1) has great value and comes off of a fast-closing second in the maiden ranks in his latest performance. The Bolt d’Oro colt will be doing his best work late in a field with speed signed on beneath Martin Chuan.

Race 7 – Audubon Oaks

Nine sophomore fillies will go seven-eighths on the dirt in a good betting affair. #9 Magical Lute (15-1), one of two in the field for conditioner Ian Wilkes, put in a robust closing kick to topple allowance foes in going-away fashion on this surface most recently, and I think that she has a big chance right back at a huge number. The dark bay Maclean’s Music filly will need help up front to aid her late kick, but she’s worth a play at the price, nonetheless, with Brian Hernandez Jr. riding.

Race 8 – Ellis Park Derby

In the $250,000 event contested at a one-turn mile, #1 Tumbarumba (8-1) has a lot of top-three appeal to me for trainer Brian Lynch. The Oscar Performance gelding didn’t handle the sloppy going in a tough assignment last time out, but he had looked the part in two consecutive gritty tallies prior to that run, and he seems perfectly spotted on the rail with the stretch out in distance, as well. Rafael Bejarano has the call atop the value contender.

Race 10 – Groupie Doll S.

A big field of 11 fillies and mares will go postward in the one-mile dirt endeavor. The John Ortiz-conditioned #9 Ice Orchid (10-1) gets a tricky wide draw for the race, but I expect her to have a major say in the outcome from off of the pace at a price. The talented Super Saver filly has finished second best in four of her five career tries at the stakes level, and she figures to receive an excellent pace set-up in the contest with a lot of speed signed on to her inside. The Shortleaf homebred will have Francisco Arrieta in the silks.