Ellis Park

Kentucky's live racing schedule for 2022 will largely mirror this season's template of race dates according to a calendar approved Tuesday by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The following three tweaks stand out from 2021: 1) Churchill Downs will race through July 4 instead of closing in late June; 2) Kentucky Downs was granted a seventh racing date, up from six; 3) Keeneland Race Course will host the Breeders' Cup the first Friday and Saturday in November, directly book-ended by live racing at Churchill on the dates right before and...

Turfway Park executives are projecting purses for maiden special weight (MSW) races to nearly double to about $60,000 for the upcoming dual meets that will be run December through March. Last season, Turfway paid out just $32,000 for MSW races while conducting meets heavily compromised by both the COVID-19 pandemic and a massive grandstand rebuild that kept the northern Kentucky oval closed to on-track spectators. Turfway's 2021-22 MSW purse projection was disclosed Tuesday during a Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) advisory board meeting by Tyler Picklesimer, the track's director of...

6th-Ellis, $50,220, Msw, 8-29, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:21.96, ft, 8 lengths. MILLIKEN (c, 3, Into Mischief--Ivory Empress {GSP, $189,402}, by Seeking the Gold), a half to 'TDN Rising Stars' McCraken (Ghostzapper), MGSW & GISP, $869,728; and Four Graces (Majesticperfection), MGSW, $261,246, got off to a belated but auspicious start to his own career here at 5-2 odds. Showing good tactical speed to draft behind the top flight while savig ground, the bay was guided through a wide-open rail around the bend and all of a sudden had the lead after a...

Ellis Park plans to honor Marvin Prado and other backstretch workers involved in rescuing six racehorses and one stable pony during a fire in the track's receiving barn last Sunday. They hope to do so during this weekend's races, contingent on the availability of Prado, whose daughter was born two months premature the day after the fire and is still hospitalized. The barn was engulfed in flames in a matter of 20 minutes and those on the scene say the man of the moment was Prado, with assistance from fellow...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency STRONACH HOMEBRED DEBUTS IN CANADA 3rd-WO, $126.8K, Msw, 2yo, 7fT, 2:07p.m. Stronach Stables homebred RAPPER ZAPPER (Ghostzapper) makes his career bow in this event. The chestnut is a full-brother to Canadian champion, Queen's Plate victress and MGSW Holy Helena and a half to GSW & MGISP Holy Boss (Street Boss). TJCIS PPs   BROWN UNVEILS PRICEY CURLIN FILLY 5th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:21p.m. Chad Brown saddles an expensive first timer in DISTINCTLYPOSSIBLE (Curlin), who summoned $670,000 at OBS April after breezing in :10...

Racing was cancelled at Ellis Park for Sunday after the track's receiving barn caught fire and burned down in the early morning hours. No humans were in the barn at the time and reportedly all seven horses stabled there were able to be rescued by nearby grooms. "Thankful to say that the three horses we had in the receiving barn at Ellis Park were removed safely by a couple grooms on the backside," trainer Jason Barkley tweeted. "Can't thank them enough for jumping into action and saving our horses as...

In a bizarre incident Saturday at Ellis Park, 2-year-old filly Bold and Bossy (Strong Mandate) got loose in the post parade prior to the first race after unseating rider Miguel Mena, ran off the track, and went on a merry tour of U.S. 41N, Interstate 69, and Veterans Memorial Parkway. She made it quite a distance, crossing state lines from Kentucky into Indiana, before being caught and returned via horse ambulance to the Ellis Park barn area, where the state veterinarian immediately began administering fluids and additional treatment. In spite...

6th-Ellis, $51,000, Msw, 8-20, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:15.87, ft, 4 1/2 lengths. MATAREYA (f, 2, Pioneerof the Nile--Innovative Idea {GSW, $229,343}, by Bernardini), whose dam's signature win came in the 2016 GIII Groupie Doll S. here, was coupled in the wagering at 9-5 with Brendan Walsh-trained fellow Godolphin homebred  Dreamalot (Ghostzapper). Straight to the front, the bay doled out splits of :22.09 and :45.07 and turned for home in command. Dreamalot came with a fence run and briefly looked like she'd give Matareya a challenge, but the front-runner shut...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, post time: 1:05 p.m. ET While the GI Alabama S. takes centerstage later on in the program, the Saturday lid-lifter at Saratoga looks a key race in prospect, with any number of booming pedigrees and lofty pricetags on display. Peter Leidel signed the ticket at an even $1 million for RAYMOND (Into Mischief) at Keeneland September last fall, with the colt's breeder Stonestreet Stables staying in for a share. The Apr. 21 foal is the third foal to the...

'TDN Rising Star' Carribean Caper took the next step Sunday to earn her first stakes win and fourth victory overall from as many trips to the post. An eight-length romper at Fair Grounds Feb. 13, the dark bay had an easy time with first-level optional claiming foes at Keeneland Apr. 2, and resurfaced from a freshening to clear another condition here July 10. Favored in the wagering over formidable foe Magic Quest--who had run faster than Carribean Caper in her last two, both wins--she tugged her way up in between...

Verylittlecents (Goldencents) survived an objection to lead home a one-two finish for her sire in Sunday's Runhappy Ellis Park Debutante S.. Fourth behind GIII Schuylerville S. heroine Pretty Birdie (Bird Song) in her Churchill unveiling June 18, the :10 flat OBSMAR breezer broke through by daylight second out going five panels here July 11, good for a standout 70 Beyer Speed Figure. Right to the front under Joe Talamo, the bay doled out splits of :23.19 and :46.30 while going easily. They stacked up behind her rounding the bend, and...

6th-Ellis, $51,000, Msw, 8-13, 2yo, 1m, 1:35.96, ft, 4 1/4 lengths. GUNTOWN (c, 2, Gun Runner--Fun House {Broodmare Of The Year, GSW, $432,922}, by Prized) added to his freshman sire (by Candy Ride {Arg})'s red-hot run, becoming Gun Runner's 10th winner right on the heels of a pair of graded stakes wins for the Three Chimneys inmate last weekend and a strong showing at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale earlier in the week. A $750,000 buyback last September, Guntown rallied for third after a rough start going seven furlongs here July...