Ellis Park

There was no easy ride for heavily-favored ART COLLECTOR (c, 3, Bernardini--Distorted Legacy, by Distorted Humor) in Sunday's Runhappy Ellis Park Derby, as he was pressured hard on the front end throughout, but in the end it made little difference, as the streaking bay turned away all challengers to cement himself as one of the favorites for the GI Kentucky Derby. Breaking sharply at 2-5, Art Collector made the lead on his own power under Brian Hernandez, Jr. while being kept a bit off the rail heading into the clubhouse...

One day after 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine's dominant romp in the GI Longines Test S., fellow Into Mischief sophomore filly Mundaye Call turned in a similarly head-turning performance. The pricey Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad began her career with Don Chatlos, Jr., missing in her Saratoga debut almost exactly a year ago by a head at odds-on and finishing one slot ahead of Secondary Market (Into Mischief), who took a salty Saratoga allowance Sunday. Mundaye Call set the pace before fading to seventh in the GI Spinaway S. Sept. 1, but resurfaced...

Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) worked her way out of a tough spot in the lane to blow away the field in Sunday's Runhappy Debutante S. at Ellis and earn the 'TDN Rising Star' nod. The grey was one of now three good-looking debut winners for Ken McPeek so far this meet when she ran to 19-10 favoritism going long on the lawn July 5, and she was the public's tepid pick in this full field to handle a different surface and sharper trip. Sluggish at the start and ridden along...

Pico d'Oro stormed to the lead in the dying strides to break his maiden in stakes company Sunday at Ellis Park. The bay colt, a well-beaten sixth on debut at Churchill Downs June 19, overcame traffic troubles to close for second, 3 1/4-lengths behind the front-running Medicine Trail, going six furlongs at this track July 19. With an extra furlong to work with Sunday, Pico d'Oro was at the tail of the field as Medicine Trail battled favored Cowan through an opening quarter in :22.29. Medicine Trail took control turning...

Longshot Drop Anchor (Anchor Down) started slowly but finished up strongly to become the first winner for his freshman sire (by Tapit) Sunday at Ellis Park. With just an abbreviated worktab on display, the grey was let go at 12-1 and was a bit sluggish from the blocks. He was shuffled back to last entering the turn, but got back into the bit to tug his way slightly closer heading for home. Guided very wide for the stretch drive, Drop Anchor shifted in sharply when switching leads but leveled off...

Ellis Park is increasing its base purses by 20% starting with Friday's races, the track announced Sunday. The increase boosts the purses of all overnight races, which are claiming, maiden and allowance races. It comes on top of a $6,000 per-race increase in Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) purse supplements announced last week for non-claiming maiden and allowance races. With the hike for the remaining three weeks of the RUNHAPPY Summer Meet at Ellis Park, maiden special weight (non-claiming) races will have a purse totaling $46,200 for Kentucky-bred horses and...

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - Bankroll: $5230 - GI Runhappy Travers S. Result -Tiz the Law stamped himself as the Kentucky Derby favorite. Runhappy Ellis Park Derby - Art Collector has done everything right as a 3-year-old. He's stretched out, he's...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. and and Ellis Park join forces for a Cross Country Pick 5 Sunday, August 9. will host the first and third legs, while the Henderson, Kentucky oval will provide the stakes action, including the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby. This Sunday's Cross Country Pick 5 comprises: Leg 1 - Saratoga Race Course, Race 7: (4:43 p.m.) Leg 2 - Ellis Park, Race 8: Runhappy Audubon Oaks (5:10pm) Leg 3 - Saratoga Race Course, Race 8: (5:17 p.m.) Leg 4 - Ellis Park, Race 9: Groupie...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PRICEY INTO MISCHIEFS HEADLINE SPA BABY RACE 5th-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 2:26p.m. Todd Pletcher unveils Shadwell Stable's $425,000 KEENOV buy MUTASAABEQ (Into Mischief) in this test. Out of a half-ssister to MGSW Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy), he enters off a best-of-50 half-mile in :46 2/5 at the Spa Aug. 1. Bob LaPenta and Peter Brant teamed up to acquire Bottle Rocket Man (Into Mischief) for $350,000 at KEESEP and he debuts here. His dam is a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP sire Munnings (Speightstown)...

Following the fourth race Saturday at Ellis Park, heavy rain swept into Henderson, Ky., forcing the track to cancel the final five races on the card. Rain the night before had already caused Saturday's turf races to be taken off the grass. "In the best interest of safety for our jockeys and horses, we are calling off the remainder of the Saturday racing program," said Ellis Park general manager Jeff Inman. "The rain is supposed to let up this evening, and the forecast calls for beautiful weather for Sunday's Kentucky...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency WELL-RELATED JUVENILES MEET AT ELLIS 5th-ELP, $37K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:42p.m. KING FURY (Curlin) is the most expensive of the several well-related juveniles making their career bows in this test as a $950,000 FTSAUG purchase. He is the first and only foal out of the late Grade I winner Taris (Flatter), a $2.35-million FTKNOV buy. His second dam Comedy, a $1.5-million KEENOV buy, also produced SW & MGSP Theatre Star (War Front). Dale Romans unveils the latest offspring out of blue hen C.S. Royce (Unbridled's...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency SON OF INTERRUPTED DEBUTS AT ELLIS 7th-ELP, $37K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 4:40p.m. COMMITTED (More Than Ready), a $325,000 KEESEP purchase by Tracy Farmer, makes his career bow at Ellis Friday for Mark Casse. The dark bay is the first foal out of MSW & GSP Interrupted (Broken Vow), who is a daughter of MSW & MGSP Alternate (Seattle Slew). Interrupted, who was purchased by Jane Lyon for $575,000 in foal to Distorted Humor at the 2018 KEENOV sale, is a half-sister to GISW Higher...