Ultimate PP Analysis · Ellis Park

Sunday Card Report

Ellis Park (ELP) · Henderson, KY · Sunday, July 19, 2026 · 9 Races · First post 12:50 CT
FORECAST High 87.7°F · Partly cloudy RAIN 40% chance (afternoon) TRACK Fast dirt expected · Turf firm/good if it holds RECENT Sat. showers left moisture in the ground

This is a factual handicapping breakdown of all nine races, built entirely from the Brisnet past-performance data in the program (prime power, speed/pace figures, run styles, connections, breeding, and the printed meet/week track-bias study). Two structural facts drive the whole card and every selection below.

Structural read #1 — The track is playing to speed and the rail

Across the meet the dirt sprints show a speed bias of roughly 67–100% with E and E/P (early) types winning 44–80% of races and the rail/1-3 posts carrying positive impact values. Week-to-date the effect is even stronger (100% speed bias on the 6f dirt, rail impact 2.52). Translation: horses that show early foot and save ground are advantaged; deep closers must overcome the surface.

The lone turf-route sample at the meet also favored E/P near the rail (impact value 5.41 for E/P, 10.00 for the rail), though that is a one-race sample and should be weighted lightly.

Structural read #2 — Weather threatens the turf

Sunday's forecast is a high near 87.7°F with a 40% chance of afternoon rain, following Saturday showers. Four races are carded on grass — Races 3, 5, 7 and 9 — and each contains a printed "if deemed inadvisable" clause moving the race to the main dirt track.

This matters for the Pick 5. Three of the five Pick-5 legs (Races 5, 7 and 9) are turf races. If any come off the grass, the picture shifts toward proven-dirt and tactical-speed types. Selections below note the off-the-turf angle where it changes the answer.

Track Bias Snapshot

Meet 07/04–07/17 · printed in program
Dirt 6.5f
100%
Speed bias · E/P impact 2.86 (80% of races won)
Dirt 6.0f (wk)
100%
Speed bias week-to-date · rail impact 2.52
Dirt 8.0f
87%
Speed bias · E/P impact 1.60–2.10
Dirt 5.5f
67%
E impact 1.42 (44% wire-to-wire class)
Turf 5.5f
50%
E/P & P share; posts 4-7 impact 1.80
Turf routes
100%
1-race sample · rail & E/P favored

The Pick 5 — Races 5 through 9

$0.50 base · 50-cent minimum
Sequence card

Pick 5 Legs & Selections

KEY = top choice · standard = live contender · faded = spread/all-weather saver. "Off-turf" notes flag horses who improve if a leg comes off the grass.
Leg 1Race 5 · Turf 1⅛m Alw
1 Sneakily 5 Totally Justified 6 Classic Glide 3 Noshametohergame
Leg 2Race 6 · Dirt 1m OC
4 Classic Car Wash 5 Lunar Module 7 Urban Planner 3 So Sandy 8 Dive Bomber
Leg 3Race 7 · Turf 1m Mdn 2yo
2 Code Zero 3 Smoke Trail 6 Best Screenplay 5 Good to Be King 8 Warfork
Leg 4Race 8 · Twin Bridges S. 6f
6 Cash Call 5 One Magic Philly 3 Evanescence 4 Kilwin 9 Echo Sound
Leg 5Race 9 · Turf 1⅛m Mdn
4 Let's Be Frank 7 Banksy's 5 Payton's Hammer 10 Ravenous 2 Limelight 12 Diamond Eyed Jack
Ticket A · Saver$18.00
  • R51 (single)
  • R64, 5, 3
  • R72, 3
  • R86, 5
  • R94, 7, 5
1×3×2×2×3 = 36 combos × $0.50. Leans on Sneakily and the two class horses in each dirt/stakes leg.
Ticket B · Main$200.00
  • R51 (single)
  • R64, 5, 3, 7, 8
  • R72, 3, 6, 8
  • R86, 5, 3, 4
  • R94, 7, 5, 10, 2
1×5×4×4×5 = 400 combos × $0.50. Still singles Sneakily but widens the two toughest legs (6 & 9).
Ticket C · Spread$72.00
  • R51 (single)
  • R64, 5, 3, 7
  • R72, 3, 6
  • R86, 5, 3
  • R94, 7, 5, 2
1×4×3×3×4 = 144 combos × $0.50. The middle-ground play if you trust Sneakily but want coverage.

Pick-5 logic in one paragraph

Leg 1 (R5) is the anchor: Sneakily has a 4-point prime-power edge, the barn (Cox) and rider (Geroux) are hot, and she posted the field's top last-race figure winning her only 2026 start. If you cannot single, add #5 Totally Justified. Leg 4 (R8, the stakes) and Leg 2 (R6) are the deepest legs — both are stacked with speed types on a speed-favoring surface, so spend spread dollars there. Legs 3 & 5 are wide-open maiden turf routes; the KEY plus one or two live firsters/droppers is enough on the saver, more on the main. If rain moves Legs 1, 3 or 5 to the dirt, re-weight toward proven-dirt/speed horses noted in each race below.

If It Rains — The Wet-Track Plan

Turf races: 3 · 5 · 7 · 9

Two different rain scenarios

Scenario A — races stay on grass (soft/yielding turf). Light rain may only soften the course. The order barely changes; lean slightly toward horses with soft-turf/mud pedigree and away from need-the-lead speed on tiring ground. My dry top picks mostly hold.

Scenario B — races come off to the main dirt track. This is the big swing. Each turf race (3, 5, 7, 9) has a printed main-track clause, and Races 5, 7 & 9 are Pick-5 legs. Off the grass, proven-dirt form and tactical speed win — the grass-bred first-timers and pure-turf closers drop sharply. The revised picks below assume Scenario B on a wet/sloppy dirt strip, where the meet's speed-and-rail bias gets stronger, not weaker.

OFF
TURF

Revised picks if the turf races move to dirt

Based on each horse's actual dirt/wet form & mud pedigree in the program
RaceDry (turf) top pickWet / off-turf top pickWhy it changes
39 Kihei Kiana / 10 Callie's Dance10 Callie's Dance → 9 Kihei KianaBoth already ran on dirt (Callie's Dance 2nd, fig 74; Kihei Kiana 3rd, fig 71). On dirt they tower over the grass-bred first-timers, and Callie's E speed fits the wet-dirt bias. Toss the turf-only debut runners.
51 Sneakily (single)6 Classic Glide & 5 Totally Justified, then 1Sneakily has never raced on dirt (all turf form). Classic Glide won last out on a sloppy dirt track; Totally Justified is a $775k Justify filly who ran 3rd on sloppy dirt last time. Both proven wet-dirt — promote them; keep Sneakily (Tapit handles wet) but no longer a single.
72 Code Zero / 3 Smoke Trail3 Smoke Trail, 8 Warfork, 2 Code ZeroSmoke Trail is the only one with an actual dirt figure. Warfork is by Ghostzapper (dirt sire) and improves off grass. Widen — most are first-timers who become a pedigree guess on a wet strip.
94 Let's Be Frank / 7 Banksy's7 Banksy's (clear), then 12, 2, 6Banksy's entire race record is on dirt (four seconds, top figure) — he becomes the standout. Diamond Eyed Jack (12) & Limelight (2) own dirt figures; El Tio (6, Uncle Mo) ran his best on dirt. Grass-first Let's Be Frank drops.
Also note — the two dirt legs (R6 & R8) if it turns sloppy. These already run on the main track, so they don't "come off," but a wet-fast/sloppy surface amplifies speed and rewards mud pedigree. In R6, Lunar Module (sire Conveyance 23% mud) and Zambezi (Candy Ride 20% mud) gain; So Sandy (Omaha Beach 19% mud) is fine. In R8, a sloppy 6f makes early speed nearly decisive — favor the E/P group (Cash Call, One Magic Philly, Echo Sound, Jersey Pearl) over the closers Evanescence/Kilwin.
Rain Ticket · Saver$16.00
  • R56, 5
  • R64, 5
  • R73, 8
  • R86, 5
  • R97, 12
2×2×2×2×2 = 32 combos × $0.50. Wet-dirt form only, two deep per leg.
Rain Ticket · Main$121.50
  • R56, 5, 1
  • R64, 5, 7
  • R73, 8, 2
  • R86, 5, 3
  • R97, 12, 2
3×3×3×3×3 = 243 combos × $0.50. Covers the ability horses that also handle a wet strip.
Split Decisiongame-time
  • Don't commit early. Track condition and "main track only" scratches are usually posted well before Race 5's 2:44 post.
  • If the turf holds → play the dry tickets (Sneakily single).
  • If it's taken off → play a rain ticket (Sneakily no longer a single).
The one thing not to do is single Sneakily on a ticket you fire before the turf comes off.
1

Clm 30000n2L

6½ Furlongs · Dirt · 3&up · $40,000 · Post 12:50
#HorseMLStylePPBest@DistAngle
7Cant Stop Munnings5/2P2121.3Top prime power & class rating; 3rd vs similar last; 51 days off, failed as fav last.
6Culprit4/1E/P1120.090Fastest best-dirt-speed in field; ideal speed/rail profile — but 51 days off & a PV-injured scratch 07/05. Watch the tote/warm-up.
3White Whale3/1E/P2119.3Drops in class; trainer 100% 2nd-off-claim; returns to a sprint. Only 1 win / 16 starts.
5Impavido6/1E/P7117.1Won 2 back at a lower level; sharp 4f work; poor last 2 figs, moves up.
8Another Monarch10/1P0117.780Highest last-race speed figure (78); consistent minor awards; no early foot for this bias.
1Good Mojo10/1E/P0117.9824th start off layoff angle; hot trainer/jockey combo; beaten by weaker last.
2Dispersion12/1P4114.93-yr-old dropping in; Arrieta up; figures a notch light.
4Big Tech8/1E4111.33+ months off; barn 0-for-meet; poor last 2 figs.
Verdict  A speed-favoring sprint that suits the E/P group. Cant Stop Munnings has the class but is a presser off a layoff who failed as the chalk last out. Culprit owns the fastest raw speed and the perfect style/post profile — provided his morning warm-up is clean after the recent injury scratch. White Whale's class drop + 100% 2nd-off-claim angle makes him the most reliable win-and-price play. Use 6, 3, 7 on top with 5, 8, 1 underneath.
2

MC 30000 · Maidens

5½ Furlongs · Dirt · 2yo · $37,500 · Post 1:19
#HorseMLStylePPLR figAngle
5Joe Joe Dude5/2E4106.835Top prime power & fastest dirt speed; drops in class; blinkers off. Speed style fits the bias, but faded badly last out.
4Mr. Fete4/1S0105.460Field-high last-race figure (60); 3rd vs tougher; drops; red-hot barn (Ennis 8:3-0-1). Closing style fights the bias.
9Jack's Back7/2P2103.358$100k yearling; drops in class; Asmussen; steady 3rd/4th figures.
6Charlatan West6/11stFirst-time starter; Asmussen; stakes-winning female family, sharp gate work — the live debut runner.
1Heart of a Hero8/1P2102.649Returns to dirt from turf; drops in; two dull tries.
7Fortunistic10/11stDebut; Mo Town colt bred for the trip; dam winless from 2 to date.
2 / 3 / 8Thunder Town / Lookism / Mindful Keeper12-15/11st/—Debut or lightly-raced longshots; weak connections stats.
Verdict  Favorites in this exact race-type win 40% (ITM 100%), so respect the top of the board. Joe Joe Dude has the class and the right speed style but must rebound from a troubled last race. Jack's Back (class drop, Asmussen) and first-timer Charlatan West are the main threats; Mr. Fete has the best recent number but has to close into a speed-tilted track. Not a Pick-5 leg.
3

Md Opt Clm 50000 · Fillies

5½ Furlongs · Turf* · 2yo F · $53,000 · Post 1:48
#HorseMLStylePPLR figAngle
9Kihei Kiana3/1S0121.671Top prime power & field-best figure; 3rd on dirt debut vs tougher; drops in; Calhoun. Dirt-to-turf, never on grass.
10Callie's Dance5/1E6121.374Highest last-race speed rating (74); ran 2nd on dirt debut; sharp 5f bullet-ish work; Dirt-to-Turf +0.28 angle. Speed style helps most if it comes off.
4Donie Maronie9/21stCasse firster; Golden Pal filly bred for grass; solid works.
3Southern Kiss8/11stCasse firster; Golden Pal; turf-page dam (stakes winner). Live debut.
13Brightwater (AE)6/11stGeroux (38% meet) named; grass breeding; needs to draw in.
1Chiqueada12/1112.661Hot Ennis/Achard combo; dirt-to-turf; one modest dirt try.
6 / 14 / 2Holiday Weekend / Gracie's Lakehouse / Opalite Dust8-15/11stTurf-bred first-timers; live at a price if the leaders bunch.
Verdict  Wide-open turf maiden with only two proven runners. Kihei Kiana and Callie's Dance are the class of the field on figures; the rest are first-time-starters from Casse (4, 3) and Geroux-ridden debuts. Turf 5.5f here favors mid-pack posts (4-7) and E/P — a point in Callie's Dance's favor. Off-turf note: if it rains onto the main track, the two with dirt figures (10 Callie's Dance, 9 Kihei Kiana) are heavily advantaged over the grass-bred debut runners.
4

Clm 10000n2L · F&M

5½ Furlongs · Dirt · 3&up F&M · $27,500 · Post 2:16
#HorseMLStylePPBest@DistAngle
2Artella7/2E3108.373Top prime power; highest last-race figure; won last (maiden). E style fits the bias; moves up in class.
4Silent Strike3/1P2104.764Fastest best-dirt-speed (tie); blinkers on; hot barn (Santamaria 6:2-1-1); ran 2nd on turf last. Failed as fav, 2+ mo off.
8Mo Indian Lady4/1S3103.062Drops in class; switches to high-% Arrieta; 2+ months off; closer vs a speed bias.
1Caroom's Croupier5/1E4104.0Fastest best-dirt-speed (tie); 3rd vs tougher last; "suspicious" class drop noted by the form.
3I'm Hungover8/1S398.4Won last; moves up; needs pace to close into.
7Dot Your Eyes12/1S396.3Won last on turf; moves up to dirt; figures short.
6 / 5Pauline's Angel / Honey's On Fire8-12/1P/E99.5/94.0Class-droppers with soft recent numbers.
Verdict  Bottom-level claimer where Artella pairs the top figure with the ideal E style for the surface, though she rises in class. Silent Strike (blinkers, hot barn, top raw speed) and the "suspicious-drop" Caroom's Croupier add early pace. Mo Indian Lady is the closer to catch a hot pace. Note only two races of this exact type have been run at the meet (both won by sub-5/1 chalk). Not a Pick-5 leg.
5

Alw 102000n1x · F&M

1⅛ Miles · Turf* · 3&up F&M · $102,000 · Post 2:44
Pick 5 · Leg 1
#HorseMLStylePPLR figAngle
1Sneakily8/5S0136.491Class of the field. Top PP by 4 pts; field-high last-race figure; won her lone 2026 start from far back; Cox barn + Geroux hot (4:2-1-0). Tapit filly, $850k. Best turf speed > avg winning speed. Moves up.
5Totally Justified5/2P0126.783$775k Justify filly; fastest best-turf-speed in the field; drops from graded-stakes company; 4th start off layoff angle; 22% barn Dirt-to-Turf.
6Classic Glide12/1P2132.5782nd-highest PP; won last (on dirt); switches to high-% Arrieta. Barn is only 6% dirt-to-turf — the caveat.
3Noshametohergame4/1E5120.473Lightly raced (won debut on turf); 6+ months off; 2nd-time-Lasix & 90+-day barn angles both positive; E style helps.
2Pookie6/1P5119.080Deep turf-route experience but 1 win / 11; jockey & barn cold on turf.
4Heart Spin12/1S1117.575Honest turf mare, 1 win / 21; best turf speed > avg winning; deep closer, apprentice-type bug rider.
7Wine Party12/1P0120.278Calumet; 17% turf-starts barn; modest figures, needs a step forward.
Verdict / Leg 1  Sneakily is the strongest single on the card — class, connections, form and a figure edge. The saver & spread tickets single her; the main can add Totally Justified (class-drop, fastest turf figure) as insurance. Off-turf note: if this comes off to the main track (1⅛m dirt), Totally Justified — a $775k dirt-pedigreed Justify filly who has run well on dirt — and E-type Noshametohergame gain, while pure-turf Pookie/Wine Party lose value. Consider adding #5 in that scenario.
6

Opt Clm 62500n2x

1 Mile · Dirt · 3&up · $104,000 · Post 3:12
Pick 5 · Leg 2
#HorseMLStylePPBest@DistAngle
4Classic Car Wash5/1E/P5132.096Fastest best-dirt-speed in field; ran 2nd last; 20% barn 2nd-off-claim; E/P style + 8f speed bias = perfect fit.
5Lunar Module8/1E/P8131.1Highest last-race speed rating (95); won last; Curtis hot (13:4-0-3); sharp 4f work; very high early-speed points.
7Urban Planner12/1P2128.6Won last two; Jacobson barn 23% "won last race"; hot tnr/jky combo (8:2-2-0). Underlaid on the M/L.
3So Sandy2/1E/P8136.9Top prime power; $535k Omaha Beach colt; loads of early foot for the bias — but 8+ months off & failed as fav last. Vulnerable favorite.
8Dive Bomber6/1E/P6132.52nd-highest PP; hot barn (Shorter 6:2-1-0); consistent; cuts back off two solid sprints.
9Zambezi6/1E/P4132.498Field-high best-speed-at-dist (98); 3rd last; 2+ months off; Maker.
6Vamos Carlitos9/2E/P4128.8Ran 2nd last; jockey cold this meet; stretch-out concern (5% barn sprint-to-route).
1 / 2Special Session / Overstatement15-20/1E/P128.8/123.0Class-relief/longshots with figures that rank light vs the group.
Verdict / Leg 2  One of the two deepest Pick-5 legs — seven live E/P types into an 87%-speed-biased mile. Classic Car Wash is the play: fastest raw speed, right style, 2nd-off-claim barn angle. Lunar Module (best last figure, won last, hot rider) and Urban Planner (won last two) are the prime dangers; favorite So Sandy must be used but is beatable off the long layoff. Spread here on the main/spread tickets.
7

Maiden 100k · 2yo

1 Mile · Turf* · 2yo · $100,000 · Post 3:42
Pick 5 · Leg 3
#HorseMLStylePPLR figAngle
2Code Zero3/11stCox first-timer; $175k Candy Ride colt bred for turf/route; positive debut & turf barn angles; sharp 4f work. Class debut of the field.
3Smoke Trail6/1P6122.577Top prime power; field-high last figure (77); 3rd last; best turf speed in field; Ennis/Achard hot combo. Caveat: 1st time at a route.
6Best Screenplay7/21stWalsh (20:10-2-3, 50%) & Curtis (hot) — the meet's hottest debut combo; Oscar Performance colt bred for grass.
5Good to Be King5/11st on grass118.373War Front colt; one turf race (73); improves 2nd time; jockey cold this meet.
8Warfork9/21stCasse first-timer; Ghostzapper colt; solid works.
12Kurita's Folly (AE)8/11stGrass-bred debut; Danner barn hot (3:2-1-0); needs to draw in.
4Sir Hansen6/11stMaker firster bred for the route; barn only 7% debut-turf.
Verdict / Leg 3  A first-time-starter–heavy turf route where only Smoke Trail, Good to Be King (and longshots) have run. Code Zero (Cox, priciest, turf-bred, working well) is the logical debut top choice; Smoke Trail has the best figures but must prove he stays a mile; Best Screenplay is the live debut off the meet's hottest combo. Off-turf note: if it comes off, Smoke Trail (a dirt figure already) and Good to Be King's tactical speed gain, while the pure-turf debut runners are a guess on dirt — widen this leg if rain hits.
8

Twin Bridges S. (Black type)

6 Furlongs · Dirt · 3&up F&M · $175,000 · Post 4:12
Pick 5 · Leg 4
#HorseMLStylePPBest@DistAngle
6Cash Call3/1E/P6137.3100Baffert (3-for-4 at meet); won last; 4-1-2 in 8 lifetime; hot Geroux combo (3:3-0-0). E/P speed into a 6f speed bias. Moves up in class.
5One Magic Philly4/1E/P5136.8100Fastest best-dirt-speed (tie, 100); Walsh (hot 50% meet); drops in from graded company; ideal style/surface fit.
3Evanescence7/2S2138.8Top prime power; field-high last-race figure (96); drops in class; Kenneally/Machado. Closer — the bias is the only knock.
4Kilwin9/2S0138.7$1.1M earner & Grade-1 winner; drops way in; but 10 months off & a deep closer vs a speed track.
9Echo Sound6/1E/P5132.65 wins / 8 lifetime; drops in; E/P style fits — but 10 months off and outside post.
7Jersey Pearl10/1E6135.2Drops in; owns the highest speed figure recorded at today's distance; pure E style. 55 days off.
1Asternia12/1E/P6130.5$712k earner; 3rd last; 2+ months off; 18% barn 46-90-day angle.
8 / 10Tapit Quick / Pistol30/1E/P·P125.8/124.9Figures rank behind; outside posts a further negative.
Verdict / Leg 4  The deepest, richest leg — five legitimate stakes-caliber fillies/mares. On a 6f dirt playing to speed and the rail, the E/P group is favored: Cash Call (Baffert, won last, hot combo) and One Magic Philly (fastest dirt speed, Walsh, class-drop) are the style-plus-class plays. Evanescence (top figure) and Kilwin (class) are the closers who must overcome the bias. Spread across 4-5 here on the main/spread tickets; the saver leans on the two E/P types.
9

Maiden 100k

1⅛ Miles · Turf* · 3&up · $100,000 · Post 4:42
Pick 5 · Leg 5
#HorseMLStylePPLR figAngle
4Let's Be Frank3/1S2133.7832nd-highest PP; best-turf-speed in field (tie); consistent turf placings (0-1-2); blinkers on; McCarthy. Failed as fav last.
7Banksy's4/1S2134.085Top prime power; field-high last figure (tie, 85); FOUR runner-up finishes; Fawkes. First time on turf, but page & Dirt-to-Turf angle (+3.86) suggest grass. All-dirt form.
5Payton's Hammer12/1E/P4126.8Best-turf-speed in field (tie); the only genuine E/P — the run style the turf-route bias favors. Beaten by weaker last.
10Ravenous5/1S0121.076Walsh (hot); 3 months off; two turf tries; closer.
2Limelight8/1E6117.585Field-high last figure (tie, 85); 3rd last; E style suits the bias; Authentic colt.
12Diamond Eyed Jack (AE)12/1E/P4125.179Walsh; 3rd-off-layoff angle (21% barn); consistent minor awards; E/P style helps.
9Terre Haute12/1P4111.269Hot Ennis/Achard combo; blinkers on; three thirds; figures short.
1 / 3 / 6Slide Away / Massachusetts / El Tio20/165-118Well-bred but long-idle / poor-figure types; toss on figures.
Verdict / Leg 5  An open turf-route maiden. Let's Be Frank and Banksy's sit on top by prime power and speed figure; Payton's Hammer and Limelight add the E/P/E dimension the printed turf bias favors. Use 4/7 on top with 5/2 (and 10/12 on the wider tickets). Off-turf note: if this moves to the dirt, Banksy's — whose entire race record is on dirt with four seconds — becomes the clear top choice, while grass-first types (Let's Be Frank, Payton's Hammer) drop. Bump #7 up if rain hits.

Method & Sources

Every rating cited above is taken directly from the Brisnet Ultimate PP program for this card: Prime Power (composite class/form rating), Best Speed at Distance and last-race speed figures, printed run styles (E / E/P / P / S with the early-pace number), the meet and week Track Bias Stats, connection win rates, breeding (sire/dam-sire AWD, turf/mud aptitude) and the printed trainer/jockey angle lines. Weather is the Sunday, July 19 2026 forecast for Henderson, KY (high ~87.7°F, ~40% afternoon rain). The four turf races (3, 5, 7, 9) each carry a published main-track contingency, noted where it changes the read.

For informational and analytical purposes only. This report summarizes published past-performance data; it is not betting or financial advice and does not guarantee outcomes. Horse racing wagering carries risk — never stake more than you can afford to lose, and please gamble responsibly. If gambling is a problem, help is available (in the U.S., 1-800-GAMBLER).

Past-performance data © 2026 Bloodstock Research Information Services (Brisnet), created with data supplied by and proprietary to Equibase Company LLC. Reproduced here for analysis. Report generated July 18, 2026.