Ellis Park’s closing day card for the 2025 season boasts a $172,617 carryover in the pick 6. The mandatory provision-payout is in play with a 20-cent base minimum bet. The sequence runs Races 4-9 and gets underway around 2:16 pm ET.

Race 4
Between trainer changes off the claim and class droppers, this is a tough-to-read group of 8 that will require some coverage for me. #2 Protonmagic moves from 4% and 8% barns to an outfit that wins 30% off the claim from nearly its last 100 starters. #1 Little Blaze and #4 Beau Soleil have been facing tougher, and it’s noteworthy that big class drops at the very end of a racing meet are typical when a win-and-claim can be the best financial outcome vs. shipping costs and fighting for stall space at the next destination. Then there’s #8 What’s Crackin, who simply fits and belongs at the level after a good second vs. similar as the favorite last out.

Race 5
We’ll narrow the ticket later, but for now it’s another spread option in this turf sprint maiden for 2-year-olds. Horses with experience have nearly a 2X win rate (15% vs. 8%) in these races at Ellis Park this season. #3 Diamondintherough (10-1 ML) goes for a Chris Hartman barn that’s historically finished strong closing weekend at Ellis before the scene shifts in the past. Trainer Brian Lynch has had a big meet and is red-hot of late, so #10 Practically Famous tries turf after 2 decent bids, while #4 Storm’s Wake is the most interesting rookie in the cast with Nik Juarez aboard, one of the most successful turf riders at the current meet. Jaime Torres also has had a fantastic turf meet and pilots second-timer Gold Case worth a look. First-timer #5 Carolannie has the Cox-Gaffalione connections to respect and a bullet workout Aug. 16 from the gate, not insignificant for a 2-year-old filly.

Race 6
#5 Greek Heiress comes off a smashing, career-best win and a repeat of that wins this race for fun like the last 5+ length score. She’s won 5 of 7 since coming to Lindsay Shultz’s barn. Her last 2 wins were followed up by losses, which gives life to #2 Swiftwind, who has won 3 straight . That Steve Asmussen also entered Tiz Purple, who hasn’t raced since November, to help fill the field is a sign that he really wants Swifthand to get another shot while hot before the meet ends.

Race 7
When 2-year-olds go a mile trip at Ellis in maiden company, experienced horses have a 24-4 edge in wins over rookies the past 5 years. I’ll fully focus on those who’ve run, namely #3 Instant Impact as my key to the sequence. Trainer Kenny McPeek is 2-for-2 at the meet with 2-year-olds at the mile trip and has 9 such wins over the last 5 years at Ellis – no other trainer has more than 3. Exits a sprint debut at Saratoga that was more respectable when runner-up Chalky White returned to win at the Spa earlier this week. The obvious other consideration among the experienced is #5 Maximus Prime, second at Keeneland and Churchill’s Kentucky Juvenile Stakes as an early season freshman. He’s the back-up plan, but won’t be doubling the ticket cost to include on the primary ticket.


Race 8
In the featured $150,000 Ellis Park Turf Stakes, I’m standing against 7-5 morning line favorite #8 Everland. She has a class edge, but has won just 1 of her last 12 and has never hit the board in 5 turf tries. #7 Next Up (10-1 ML) has done nothing wrong in 4 tries, over 3 different surfaces both short and around 2 turns. Matt Sims sharpened her with a fast half-mile at Keeneland. #2 Hope Mission stacks up well with these after an even, modest try in stakes company in Indy for Walsh-Gaffalione connections you have to respect (winning 31% locally).

Race 9
First-timers have struggled to win in elder maiden claiming turf routes at Ellis over the past 5 years, so lean to experience in the finale. That’s significant when Cox-Gaffalione have a runner that will take money. I mentioned earlier about Chris Hartman’s success winning races late in the Ellis stand before it toughens at Kentucky Downs, Churchill and Keeneland through December. He’s got both #2 Reya Sunshine and #11 Hope Restored here to watch. Add in #8 Reading Time for a Peter Eurton barn that won a similar race here Aug. 8.

Suggested ticket
2,1,8,4 with 3,10,2,4,5 with 5,2 with 3 with 7,2 with 2,11,8 = $48 for each 20-cent play