Ellis Park announces its summer schedule of 18 stakes races
Ellis Park has released its summer stakes schedule, with a total of $4 million in purses in 18 stakes races during the 25-day season that begins Thursday, July 3.
Ellis Park’s stakes lineup is led by the $400,000 Pucker Up (G3), one of seven races across Kentucky Downs preview weekend, Aug. 2-3. This stakes-filled weekend of racing also includes the $300,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup, $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile, $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint, $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile, $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Nashville Derby and $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint.
Two other premier stakes events scheduled are the $300,000 Ellis Park Derby and $200,000 Groupie Doll, taking place Aug. 10. The Ellis Park Derby and Groupie Doll are part of a six-stakes lineup that day, which also includes the $200,000 Ellis Park Juvenile, $200,000 Ellis Park Debutante, $200,000 Audubon Oaks and $200,000 R. A. Cowboy Jones Memorial.
The meet will start with racing on a Thursday-Sunday schedule, then shift to a Saturday-Monday format from July 13 to Aug. 18 before concluding with a Friday-Sunday schedule, Aug. 22-24.
| Date | Race | Distance | Conditions | Base purse | KTDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 4 | Dade Park Dash | 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) | 3yo | $100,000 | $50,000 |
| July 6 | Pea Patch | 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) | 3yo fillies | $100,000 | $50,000 |
| July 20 | Jeff Hall Memorial | 6 1/2 furlongs | 3yo and up | $100,000 | $50,000 |
| July 21 | Twin Bridges | 6 furlongs | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $100,000 | $50,000 |
| Aug. 2 | Ky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile | 1 mile (turf) | 3yo and up | $125,000 | $125,000 |
| Aug. 2 | Ky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint | 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $125,000 | $125,000 |
| Aug. 2 | Ky Downs Preview Nashville Derby | 1 1/8 miles (turf) | 3yo | $125,000 | $125,000 |
| Aug. 3 | Pucker Up (G3) | 1 1/8 miles (turf) | 3yo fillies | $250,000 | $150,000 |
| Aug. 3 | Ky Downs Preview Turf Cup | 1 1/4 miles (turf) | 3yo and up | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Aug. 3 | Ky Downs Preview Turf Sprint | 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) | 3yo and up | $125,000 | $125,000 |
| Aug. 3 | Ky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile | 1 mile (turf) | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $125,000 | $125,000 |
| Aug. 10 | Ellis Park Derby | 1 mile | 3yo | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Aug. 10 | Groupie Doll | 1 mile | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Aug. 10 | Ellis Park Juvenile | 7 furlongs | 2yo | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Aug. 10 | Ellis Park Debutante | 7 furlongs | 2yo fillies | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Aug. 10 | Audubon Oaks | 7 furlongs | 3yo fillies | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Aug. 10 | R. A. Cowboy Jones Memorial | 1 mile | 3yo and up | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Aug. 24 | Ellis Park Turf Stakes | 1 1/16 miles (turf) | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $100,000 | $50,000 |