Ellis Park Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 6/18/23

The “Churchill Downs at Ellis Park” spring meet in Kentucky continues through July 2. Sunday's card includes nine races with post time at 1:50 p.m. ET. Get in the game with mobile betting on FanDuel Sportsbook.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, check the weather, and keep an eye on the track conditions.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions).

Ellis Park Betting Picks

According to numberFire horse racing projections and Guaranteed Tip Sheet, these are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today. The best value option will not necessarily be the top pick(s).

1. What's Up Doc and Captain Jack, Race 3

FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1 and 9/2
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Race 3 is a Starter Allowance and six runners are lined up to go 1 mile. The numberFire algorithm and Guaranteed Tip Sheet pick What's Up Doc (2/1) to win, and GTS makes him a best bet ahead of Pledgeofallegiance (5/2) (with top jockey Luis Saez riding) and Dog Red (5/1).

Also consider Captain Jack (9/2), who gets a big weight reduction with apprentice jockey Yoel Navas. Captain Jack broke his maiden in March at 35/1 odds with 20-year-old Navas picking up his first career win. Captain Jack came back a month later to just miss with Navas riding and finish second by a neck. This stretch-out suits him well as a son of McCraken.

2. Mac Daddy Too and Don't Wait Up, Race 5

FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1 and 3/1
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Race 5 is another Starter Allowance but a 6-furlong sprint. Mac Daddy Too (2/1) is a top win contender according to both numberFire and GTS with Luis Saez riding. He's hit the board in five of his last six starts while posting three triple-digit speed figures.

Don't Wait Up (3/1) is also a main challenger, having won an Allowance race last month and finishing second in April in a fast-paced race.

3. Bad Beat Brian and Carotari, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2 and 12/1
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Race 7 is the $225,000 Mighty Beau Stakes with 10 runners sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Bad Beat Brian (7/2) hopes to avoid a similar fate after just missing by a neck to finish second at 40/1 odds in a Grade 2 race in April with a career-best speed figure (114). He won an Allowance race last month and looks fit as a numberFire and GTS top win contender.

Top jockey Tyler Gaffalione rides Smokin' Jay (4/1) while Luis Saez rides Carotari (12/1), who finished second and third in a pair of stakes races this spring.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.