(Destino d’Oro wins the G3 Pucker Up Stakes in a breeze / All Photos by Coady Media)

From the Ellis Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

DESTINO D’ORO CRUISES TO VICTORY IN $399,400 PUCKER UP STAKES

ON KENTUCKY DOWNS PREVIEW DAY AT ELLIS PARK

 

HENDERSON, Ky. (Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025) – Steve Landers Racing’s Destino d’Oro sat a perfect trip and drew off with authority to win Sunday’s $399,400 Pucker Up Stakes presented by AgRevolution (Grade III) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Luan Machado, Destino d’Oro completed the 1 1/8-mile turf contest in 1:45.64 to earn her first graded stakes victory.

It was an even break in the field of 10 3-year-old fillies, with Drop the Hammer setting a composed pace of :23.17 for the opening quarter-mile and :47.69 for the half. Destino d’Oro, much closer to the lead than in her allowance win six weeks ago, tracked comfortably in second, just a length behind. Midway through the stretch, Machado tipped her into the clear and the daughter of Bolt d’Oro responded willingly, pulling away for a dominant 3 ¾-length victory.

“She sat much closer to the pace this time and I think it really helped her,” Machado said. “Down the backside, I could tell she was full of run, even sitting as close to the pace as she was. She’s been very impressive so far in her career and I think has a great future ahead of her.”

 

Hereforagoodtime closed late to finish second, followed by Admit, Liam in the Dust, Drop the Hammer, Deloraine, Nosleeptillbrooklyn, Fixin to Bee, Princess Attitude and Just Ruthless.

The win marked her third from just four career starts. Sunday’s victory was worth $237,250 and boosted her career earnings to $444,909.

Sent off as the even-money favorite, Destino d’Oro paid $4.10.

With the win, Destino d’Oro earned a fees-paid berth to the Grade III Dueling Grounds Oaks on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Kentucky Downs.

Live racing resumes Monday at Ellis Park with a nine-race card. First post is 11:50 a.m. CT.

HIGHWAY ROBBER FINDS ROOM LATE, DEFENDS TITLE IN $300,000 KY DOWNS PREVIEW TURF CUP –

Susan and Jim Hill‘s Highway Robber found racing room in the nick of time and stormed down the lane to defend his title in Sunday’s $300,000 Ky Downs Preview Turf Cup (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Ridden by Cristian Torres for trainer Brian Lynch, Highway Robber completed the 1 ¼-mile turf journey in 1:58.60.

The field of eight broke cleanly with Sugoi hustling to the front from his inside draw. He led the way into the first turn, carving out a composed opening quarter in :24.07 while Highway Robber trailed the field early. Positions remained largely unchanged through a half-mile in :47.81 as Dashman advanced to challenge Sugoi nearing the far turn.

At the top of the stretch, Anglophile rallied four wide to take a narrow lead, with Dashman and Sugoi battling gamely along the inside. Highway Robber, still bottled up, was searching for running room as Ole Crazy Bone unleashed a strong rally down the center of the track. Inside the eighth pole, Torres angled Highway Robber off the rail into the clear and the 5-year-old gelding burst through with a powerful finish to edge Ole Crazy Bone by a head.

“He’s such an easy horse to ride. He’s able to relax and come to you when you need him,” Torres said. “It’s great winning this race. It’s his second in a row and I think it sets up for him perfectly for the race at Kentucky Downs.”

Anglophile held third, followed by pacesetter Sugoi, Clyde’s Got a Gun, Tapit Shoes, Dashman and Verstappen.

Highway Robber, a son of Hard Spun out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Yabba, was bred in Kentucky by Foxpointe Thoroughbreds. The victory was his sixth from 15 career starts and earned his connections $180,210, increasing their total to $1,315,573.

Highway Robber returned bettors $3.68 as the 4-5 favorite.

With the win, Highway Robber earned a fees-paid berth to the Grade II Kentucky Downs Turf Cup on Saturday, Sept. 6.

SIMPLY IN FRONT WINS WILD SIX-HORSE PHOTO IN $250,000 KY DOWNS PREVIEW LADIES TURF MILE –

Colebrook Farms’ Simply in Front surged down the center of the course and prevailed in a dramatic six-horse photo finish to win Sunday’s $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, earning an automatic berth to the Grade III Ladies Turf on Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs.

Ridden by Luan Machado for trainer Eddie Kenneally, Simply in Front completed the one-mile turf event in 1:32.63.

 

Summerintahoe broke sharply and led the field of eight through a solid opening quarter in :23.51 and a half-mile in :46.60. The pace quickened entering the far turn as a tightly bunched field lined up behind the leader. At the top of the stretch, closers began to make their moves, setting the stage for a thrilling scramble to the wire.

Simply in Front began to start her rally from last as the field entered mid-stretch. To her inside, Pharoah’s Wine punched through between horses, while Amber Cascade, stuck behind rivals at the sixteenth pole, dove to the rail and surged late. All three flashed across the wire together, while being joined within a half-length by fellow closers Waves of Mischief and Austere along with pacesetter Summerintahoe. At the wire, Simply in Front got her head down first. Pharoah’s Wine and Amber Cascade finished in a dead heat for second in the blanket finish. They were followed by Waves of Mischief, Summerintahoe, Austere, She’s Lookin Lucky and Sanctify.

“It always makes my job easier when you ride horses like this,” Machado said. “The entire stretch she gave me no sign that she wasn’t trying. I’m very proud of her effort.”

Simply in Front, a 4-year-old daughter of Summer Front out of the Blame mare Complicated, was bred in Kentucky by William Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo. The win was her fifth from 14 starts and boosting her earnings over the $2 million mark to $2,030,811.

Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, Simply in Front returned $6.30 for the victory.

BEAR RIVER PULLS 17-1 UPSET IN $250,000 KY DOWNS PREVIEW TURF SPRINT –

Charles Marquis’ Bear River battled on the front end and got his head down in time to score a 17-1 upset in Sunday’s $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Turf Sprint at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by James Graham, Bear River stopped the clock in a sharp 1:00.68 for the 5 ½-furlong turf test. Bear River paid a whopping $36.84 for his victory.

 

Coppola flashed his customary early speed and was pressed by Bear River to his outside through a swift opening quarter in :21.47. The two dueled into the far turn and remained locked in battle as they straightened for home. Meanwhile, 3-2 favorite Nobals tried to close from midpack down the center of the course. In deep stretch, Bear River dug in along the outside and edged Coppola by a neck at the wire.

“I thought there might’ve been more speed in the race but my horse is pretty fast himself,” Graham said. “He’s very genuine, very honest, very fast. … Keith (Desormeaux) brought him back at Indiana earlier this month in his first start off a layoff. He ran well that day and improved on that today.”

Nobals settled for third, followed by High Front, Arzak, Double Clutch, Charcoal, Joe Shiesty, Bal a Kazoo and Chiseler.

Bear River, a 4-year-old ridgling by Flameaway out of the Midshipman mare Sixtyfivenorth, was bred in Kentucky by Dreamfields Farm, Don Brady and Brendan Burke. The win was his sixth from 20 starts and increased his career earnings to $543,923.

With the win, Bear River earned a fees-paid berth to the Grade II Turf Sprint on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs.