Ellis Park

Two Phil's (Hard Spun), a too-good-to-lose second after racing on top of a hot pace in the GI Kentucky Derby, kicks off the second half of his season in Saturday's GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown. The GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner has been firing bullets for trainer Larry Rivelli at Hawthorne since, including a five-furlong move in :59 (1/14) June 8. Jockey Gerardo Corrales will replace the injured Jareth Loveberry in the irons. 'TDN Rising Star' Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), drawn one to the inside of the 8-5 morning-line favorite...

4th-ELP, $120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:13 p.m. Racing for the same connections that bred, owned, and trained her leading young sire, RESOURCE (Gun Runner) makes her afternoon debut as a homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds under the watchful eye of trainer Steve Asmussen. Out of a multiple stakes-winning mare in Remit (Tapit), herself a full-sister to MGSW/GISP Tapiture and SW/GSP Retap, the chestnut filly is a half-sister to both MGSW Finite (Munnings) and MSW/GSP Reride (Candy Ride {Arg}). Opposing her is a pair from the outside gates led by...

It's the transfer window over in Europe--and not just because they're between soccer seasons. They have also seen big money paid, both at auction and in private trade, to switch jockey silks at Royal Ascot this week. A couple of the top races have been won by a significant new investor, Wathnan Racing. Apparently, the people involved were eager to maintain a low profile, but it's tricky to remain incognito when the meeting's most storied trophy is being presented by the new King of England while Frankie Dettori, that least...

In a modification to the previously announced "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In" television schedule, Breeders' Cup Limited has eliminated the July 1 GI Stephen Foster S. from television coverage. Logistical challenges arose when the race was moved from Churchill Downs to Ellis Park along with the remainder of Churchill's current meet. The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series features 80 qualifying races in 11 countries. Many of the races, including the Stephen Foster, will be televised on FanDuel TV with five live programs split between NBC, FOX, and CNBC....

2nd-ELP, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:14 p.m. Two high-priced maidens will kick off their careers at Ellis Park Thursday. BC Stables paid $1.35 million for DAILY GRIND (Medaglia d'Oro) at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the bay colt is out of SW Walk Close (Tapit), who also produced his full-brother Anneau d'Or, second-place finisher in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Lambo (Uncle Mo), trained by Steve Asmussen, brought $950,000 from the Heiligbrodts and Jackpot Farm at OBS March after posting a :10 flat...

4th-ELP, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 3:16 p.m. OXO Equine's BALTA (Munnings), a $685,000 '23 OBSMAR purchase who went :9 4/5 during the under tack show, debuts Saturday for Paulo Lobo. The 2-year-old chestnut colt's family tree includes GISW Cupid (Tapit) and is a half-brother to SW Opus Forty Two (Mendelssohn). Opposing him will be fellow firster, trained Kenny McPeek, Northern Flame (Flameaway), who brought $425,000 at the Fasig-Tipton August sale last year. Also entered is D. Wayne Lukas trainee Just Steel (Justify), who went for $500,000 at the '22...

Into Champagne (f, 2, Into Mischief--Bedford Land, by Speightstown) sat a trip handy to the pace, pounced when produced and galloped away from her rivals in the late stages to complete a sweep of the afternoon's 2-year-old filly maidens for her unstoppable sire at Ellis Park and earn the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction in the process. Drawn wide for the debut, the $300,000 Keeneland September yearling showed enough speed to sit close to a good early pace and traveled strongly while traveling comfortably for Julien Leparoux. Going ominously well behind...

6th-Ellis, $120,000, Msw, 6-16, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.69, ft, 3 3/4 lengths. STREAMING NOW (f, 2, Into Mischief--One True Kiss {MGSP, $231,459}, by Warrior's Reward) came into this debut riding a pair of bullet works at the Thoroughbred Training Center, both four furlong moves in :48 flat, and she showed that speed here. Setting the pace right from the jump, she put up :22.92, :46.63, and :58.43 splits on an uncontested lead and was under confident handling entering the lane. Responding to further urgining, she inched away from a...

Pura Vida Investments celebrated a maiden-breaking win in style Thursday at Ellis Park when 2-year-old Rhyme Schemes (Ghostzapper--Katherine, by Distorted Humor) won second out in a gate-to-wire romp by 9 1/2 lengths and posted a 94 Beyer speed figure at the Pea Patch for trainer Norm Casse. In his debut May 18 at Churchill Downs, the chestnut colt finished a well-beaten sixth behind first-time starter Wilson Q (Constitution) and next-out Tremont S. victor Gold Sweep (Speightstown). "We've gone about training our 2-year-olds a little bit differently this year than previous...

GIII Louisville S. winner and Saturday's Chorleywood Overnight S. morning-line favorite Foreign Relations (Karakontie {Jpn}) very easily could have been retired from racing not long after his debut had it not been for the patience and perspective of his connections. A $1,500 short yearling-turned-$25,000 2-year-old, Foreign Relations was not the biggest physical standout when he first arrived at trainer Conor Murphy's barn. While he did run a promising second in his debut the summer of his 3-year-old season, he incurred a minor injury soon after and his owner Double O...

6th-ELP, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 4:14 p.m. An $800,000 yearling purchase out of Keeneland September, LADY MOSCATO (Quality Road) makes her afternoon debut for owner BC Stables and Hall of Fame trainer D Wayne Lukas. Out of a stakes-placed dam, she is a full-sister to GI La Troienne S. winner Salty, herself a $3 million dollar broodmare prospect out of the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Luis Saez gets the mount. Opposing her is Beautiful Dancer (Gun Runner), the first foal to make the races out of GI Del...

2nd-Ellis, $120,000, Msw, 6-15, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:02.82, ft, 9 1/2 lengths. RHYME SCHEMES (c, 2, Ghostzapper--Katherine, by Distorted Humor) reported home a well-beaten sixth on debut going five furlongs at Churchill Downs May 18. Adding blinkers here, the 8-1 chance was hustled to the front from his inside draw and faced some pressure rounding the far turn. The chestnut began to shake clear approaching the quarter pole and dropped the hammer in the stretch to graduate by 9 1/2 lengths over Ponce de Leon (Copper Bullet) in a sharp...