(Igniter wins the Ellis Park Derby on Sunday / All Photos by Coady Media)

From the Ellis Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

IGNITER POWERS CLEAR LATE TO WIN $400,000 ELLIS PARK DERBY

HENDERSON, Ky. (Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026) – Three Chimneys Farm’s Igniter took command in midstretch and drew clear to win Sunday’s ninth running of the $400,000 Ellis Park Derby presented by Hallway Feeds (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Rick Dutrow Jr., Igniter was ridden to victory by Luis Saez and stopped the timer in 1:35.56 for one mile over the fast main track.

It was a good start to the Ellis Park Derby with Spun D M C going directly to the lead, with Igniter and Corona de Oro tracking the pace. Igniter and Corona de Oro moved past the tiring leader and battled for command approaching the quarter pole. At midstretch, Igniter gained the advantage and drew clear of Corona de Oro to win by four lengths.

“He broke running,” Saez said. “We were hoping he’d have a target to run at, and it worked out that way. I think the distance was perfect for him.”

It was a half-length back to Stop the Car in third. He was followed by Seventies Music and Spun D M C.

Sent off as the even-money favorite, Igniter returned $4.10.

With his victory in the Ellis Park Derby, Igniter earned $244,000 and improved his record to 8-4-0-3 with earnings of $463,700.

Igniter is a 3-year-old son of Volatile out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Prayer. He was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm.

Live racing resumes Friday at Ellis Park with a first post of 11:50 a.m. CT.

(Five a Side wins the Groupie Doll Stakes / All Photos by Coady Media)

FIVE A SIDE DRAWS AWAY IMPRESSIVELY IN $200,000 GROUPIE DOLL – Main Line Racing Stableand Avalon Racing Stables’ Five a Side drew away impressively in the stretch to win Sunday’s 45th running of the $200,000 Groupie Doll presented by Coady Media (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by John Servis, Five a Side was ridden to victory by Jaime Torres and stopped the timer in 1:35.72 for one mile over the fast main track.

 

Cash Call broke sharply and went directly to the lead, with Queen Azteca advancing along the inside as the field exited the Thompson Chute and joined the main track. Cash Call maintained a narrow advantage through an opening quarter-mile in :23.90 and a half-mile in :46.62 before Five a Side moved to challenge from the outside.

Cash Call and Five a Side separated from the field around the far turn, but Five a Side took command in upper stretch and drew away to win by 6 ¼ lengths.

“She’s a very nice filly,” Torres said. “She handled the distance very well and drew off impressively.”

It was 2 ¾ lengths back to Union Mist in third. She was followed by In Just My Heels, Queen Azteca,Chilled and Floating Beauty.

“I thought she ran great,” Servis said. “A one-turn mile is where she wants to be. She went through a little stint early on where she was waiting on horses, but that’s behind her now. Being here in Kentucky has worked out well. Our owners twisted my arm to come out here, but I like it at Turfway and everything has worked out.”

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice, Five a Side returned $6.96.

With her victory in the Groupie Doll, Five a Side earned $120,760 and improved her record to 17-4-5-2 with earnings of $488,271.

Five a Side is a 4-year-old daughter of Spun to Run out of the Pulpit mare Kylbrylie. She was bred in Kentucky by Porta Pia Stables.

(Owen Almighty pulls away to win the R.A. “Cowboy” Jones Stakes at Ellis Park on Sunday / All Photos by Coady Media)

OWEN ALMIGHTY FENDS OFF THIS IS USCAR, COAL BATTLE TO WIN ‘COWBOY’ JONES –Flying Dutchmen’s Owen Almighty controlled the pace and turned back a pair of late challenges by This Is Uscar and Coal Battle to win Sunday’s fifth running of the $200,000 R.A. “Cowboy” Jones presented by Coady Media at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Owen Almighty was ridden to victory by Luis Saez and stopped the timer in 1:34.49 for one mile over the fast main track.

Owen Almighty broke sharply and went directly to the lead, with Extra Anejo tracking as the field exited the Thompson Chute and joined the main track. After completing a methodical opening quarter-mile in :24.21, Owen Almighty maintained a comfortable advantage down the backstretch.

This Is Uscar advanced outside Owen Almighty approaching the stretch while Coal Battle began to find his best stride. Owen Almighty responded when challenged at the eighth pole and held off his late-running rivals to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

“I thought we were going to have a target, but when the pace was slower, I knew we’d be tough to beat,” Saez said. “He broke well and took me right to the lead. He’s a fast horse, but he relaxed nicely and dug in late to hold everyone off. He’s a classy horse.”

This Is Uscar finished second, a neck in front of Coal Battle in third. He was followed by Extra Anejo, Tennessee Lamb, Heroic Move and Money Supply.

“Nobody wanted this horse to win more than I did,” Lynch said. “After he ran in the Derby, he had to undergo throat surgery. He’s a special horse to come back and perform as well as he did before the surgery.”

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Owen Almighty returned $4.44.

With his victory in the R.A. “Cowboy” Jones, Owen Almighty earned $120,760 and improved his record to 14-4-4-1 with earnings of $902,895.

Owen Almighty is a 4-year-old son of Speightstown out of the Bayern mare Tempers Rising. He was bred in Kentucky by Mark Stanley.

(Conceit captures the Ellis Park Audubon Stakes  on Sunday / All Photos by Coady Media)

CONCEIT PREVIALS IN $200,000 AUDUBON OAKS – Juddmonte’s homebred Conceit battled between horses in the stretch and prevailed by three-quarters of a length in Sunday’s seventh running of the $200,000 Audubon Oaks presented by OG Cappers at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Brad Cox, Conceit was ridden to victory by Florent Geroux and stopped the timer in 1:21.80 for seven furlongs over the fast main track.

 

Twirling Aces broke sharply and crossed over from the outside post to take the lead through an opening quarter-mile in :23.04. Conceit tracked in the two path while A Fine Chardonnay applied pressure three-wide as Twirling Aces completed a half-mile in :46.05.

The three fillies lined up across the track in upper stretch before A Fine Chardonnay put her head in front. Conceit continued to battle between horses and gained the advantage late to win by three-quarters of a length.

“She handles everything,” Geroux said. “Today was the first time she was entered to run on dirt. Her previous dirt starts came in races taken off the turf. She’s a younger sister to Final Gambit, who can run on any surface, so it looks like a very good family for Juddmonte.”

It was 2 ¾ lengths back to Twirling Aces in third. She was followed by Betty’s Pearl, Altadena and Bet the Gray, who dead-heated for fifth.

Sent off at odds of 5-2, Conceit returned $6.94.

With her victory in the Audubon Oaks, Conceit earned $121,380 and improved her record to 6-3-1-1 with earnings of $263,300.

Conceit is a 3-year-old daughter of Not This Time out of the Tapit mare Pachinko. She was bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte.

(Salahudin wins the Ellis Park Juvenile at Ellis Park on Sunday / All Photos by Coady Media)

SALAHUDIN REMAINS PEFECT WITH VICTORY IN ELLIS PARK JUVENILE – Zedan Racing Stables’ Salahudin remained unbeaten with an impressive 4 ½-length victory in Sunday’s 11th running of the $250,000 Ellis Park Juvenile presented by Claiborne Farm at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Salahudin was ridden to victory by Florent Geroux and stopped the timer in 1:23.34 for seven furlongs over the fast main track.

Salahudin broke sharply and contested the early pace with Bearamour through an opening quarter-mile in :23.21. The 2-year-old colt put his head in front approaching the far turn and began to draw away from his six rivals. Salahudin opened a three-length advantage at the eighth pole and continued clear to the wire.

“He was very impressive today,” Geroux said. “I think he’ll be even better going farther. He has a great mind to him and he’s learning each time and I think he has a lot of potential.”

 

Grand Yaupon finished second, 3  ¾ lengths in front of Bearamour in third. He was followed by Chasing the Son, Never a Doubt, Sargent Bilko and Tigrado.

“He seemed like he learned from his debut and was able to put himself into the race early without the rider having to ask him,” assistant trainer Dan Ward said. “It was a nice step forward in his progression.”

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Salahudin returned $4.68.

With his victory in the Ellis Park Juvenile, Salahudin earned $150,950 and remained undefeated through two starts with earnings of $210,462.

Salahudin is a 2-year-old son of Uncle Mo out of the Smart Strike mare Weekend Strike. He was bred in Kentucky by Newstead Corp.

(Manuka Honey wins the Ellis Park Debutante / Photo by Coady Media)

 

MANUKA HONEY REMAINS UNBEATEN IN $250,000 ELLIS PARK DEBUTANTE – Lisa Lee, Jason Sciortino, William Lynch and Brian Howe’s Manuka Honey remained undefeated with a dominant seven-length victory in Sunday’s ninth running of the $250,000 Ellis Park Debutante presented by Hausmann Outdoor Solutions at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Manuka Honey was ridden to victory by Luis Saez and stopped the timer in 1:23.15 for seven furlongs over the fast main track.

 

Sweet Mary and Glory Run battled for the early lead while Manuka Honey tracked the pace from third through an opening quarter-mile in :22.28. Glory Run held a narrow advantage after a half-mile in :45.05, but Manuka Honey advanced around the far turn and took command at the eighth pole. The 2-year-old filly quickly opened a clear advantage and continued to widen her lead through the final furlong.

“She was more professional today,” Saez said. “She broke well, and I was comfortable on her because I knew she was a special filly. Brian does an amazing job.”

 

For the Win finished second, 3 ½ lengths in front of Cardio Cat in third. She was followed by Glory Run,Velvet Beretta, Greatest Joy, Caffeine Fix and Sweet Mary.

“She’s been a very forward filly from the start,” Lynch said. “From her first start to this one, she trained so professionally and did everything so easily. Hopefully this sets her up well moving forward.”

Sent off as the 2-5 favorite, Manuka Honey returned $2.90.

With her victory in the Ellis Park Debutante, Manuka Honey earned $150,175 and remained undefeated through two starts with earnings of $202,271.

Manuka Honey is a 2-year-old daughter of Upstart out of the Hold Me Back mare Drop Dead Red. She was bred in Kentucky by Terry Hamilton.