(Brilliant Berti wins Green River Island Stakes at Ellis Park / Photos by Coady Media)

From the Ellis Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

BRILLIANT BERTI POWERS CLEAR LATE TO WIN $300,000 GREEN RIVER ISLAND

HENDERSON, Ky. (Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026) – Klein Racing’s homebred Brilliant Berti found clear running in midstretch and powered away to win Sunday’s 10th running of the $300,000 Green River Island presented by Sterling Industrial (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Brilliant Berti was ridden to victory by Brian Hernandez Jr. and stopped the timer in 1:40.31 for 1 1/16 miles over the good turf.

 

Johny’s Rendezvous was hustled to the lead with Mercante pressing from the outside and Quatrocentoracing three-wide through an opening quarter-mile in :23.89. Brilliant Berti settled near midpack before advancing into fifth around the far turn. Hernandez guided Brilliant Berti into clear running in midstretch, and the 5-year-old quickly accelerated to the lead before drawing away to win by 1 ¾ lengths.

“The key was keeping him a little more focused late,” Hernandez said. “He’s normally pretty good about putting himself in position, and everything definitely worked out today.”

It was three-quarters of a length back to Giocoso in third. He was followed by Vote No, Johny’s Rendezvous, Mercante, Lambeth, Herchee, Sumood, Flying Mohawk, Tapit Shoes and Quatrocento.

“The last three breezes with blinkers were the best of his career,” owner Richard Klein said. “We needed this one. I can’t thank Cherie and assistant trainer David Carroll enough for their support and for getting him ready with this equipment change. We knew he was a talented horse and just needed a little extra help staying focused. They helped today, and hopefully they continue to help when we go to Kentucky Downs next.”

Sent off as the 5-2 favorite, Brilliant Berti returned $7.28.

With his victory in the Green River Island, Brilliant Berti earned $176,490 and improved his record to 18-8-2-1 with earnings of $2,642,323.

Brilliant Berti is a 5-year-old homebred son of Noble Mission (GB) out of the Langfuhr mare Believe in Bertie. He was bred in Kentucky by Klein Racing.

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

LOVE YOU ANYWAY SPRINGS 16-1 UPSET IN SUNKISSED – Bregman Family Racing’s Love You Anyway slipped through an opening along the rail and surged clear to score a 16-1 upset in Sunday’s ninth running of the $250,000 Sunkissed presented by Sterling Industrial (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Rusty Arnold II, Love You Anyway was ridden to victory by Axel Concepcion and stopped the timer in 1:35.41 for one mile over the good turf.

 

Salty Senorita opened a commanding lead up the backstretch and completed the opening quarter-mile in :23.33. Her advantage began to diminish approaching the half-mile pole as Bourbon Memory moved to challenge following a half-mile in :48.66.

Bourbon Memory took command entering the stretch, while Love You Anyway saved ground behind the leaders. Concepcion guided Love You Anyway through an opening along the rail at the quarter pole, and the 4-year-old filly accelerated clear before holding off Vive Veuve by three-quarters of a length.

“Rusty and his team did a great job getting her ready today,” Concepcion said. “I just took my time and was able to save ground. Turning for home, I could see an opening at the quarter pole, and she did the rest. Once she went through there, she took off.”

It was a half-length back to Medoro in third. She was followed by Bourbon Memory, Wind Flower, Smiling Ellie, In the Stars, Salty Senorita and Sanctify.

“Our plan with this horse got turned upside down when the race in Texas was taken off the turf,” Arnold said. “We knew she was a good miler, so we regrouped and pointed her to this race. It worked out.”

Love You Anyway returned $35.14.

With her victory in the Sunkissed, Love You Anyway earned $149,400 and improved her record to 11-3-2-2 with earnings of $384,115.

Love You Anyway is a 4-year-old daughter of Tapit out of the Quality Road mare Princess La Quinta. She was bred in Kentucky by Aaron and Marie Jones.

JOE SHIESTY BECOMES RACING’S NEWEST MILLIONAIRE IN TRI-STATE TURF SPRINT –Foster Family Racing, Lonnie Reynolds, Vicki Mills and Donald Coomes’ Joe Shiesty became racing’s newest millionaire with a front-running victory in Sunday’s ninth running of the $250,000 Tri-State Turf Sprint (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Eric Foster, Joe Shiesty was ridden to victory by Fernando De La Cruz and stopped the timer in 1:02.18 for 5 1/2 furlongs over the good turf.

Joe Shiesty broke sharply and immediately established an uncontested lead, cruising through an opening quarter-mile in :22.36. Traveling comfortably without pressure around the turn, Joe Shiesty completed a half-mile in :44.76 and entered the stretch with a two-length advantage. Okiro and Troubleshooting rallied from the back of the field, but Joe Shiesty had enough left to hold off Okiro by one length.

“The best plan with him is pretty straightforward,” De La Cruz said. “If he breaks running, just keep going. I know he’s a fighter, and when he gets the lead like that, he doesn’t want to let anybody go by him.”

It was a neck back to Troubleshooting in third. He was followed by My Own, Let My People Go, Mondogetsbuckets, Cinister Cix, Golden Afternoon and Eakly.

“It’s so special, and we know how blessed we are to have a horse like him,” Foster said. “We were able to celebrate today with so many friends, family members and partners. I can’t help but thank my dad, who has been there throughout this horse’s career and was here again today. Being able to celebrate this with everyone makes it that much better. He’s a really talented horse, and becoming racing’s newest millionaire is very special.”

Joe Shiesty returned $6.48.

With his victory in the Tri-State Turf Sprint, Joe Shiesty earned $149,400 and improved his record to 22-8-4-2 with earnings of $1,140,627.

Joe Shiesty is a 5-year-old son of Air Force Blue out of the More Than Ready mare Ready to Unleash. He was bred in Kentucky by Rodney Orr.

FANCY SAILOR DIGS IN TO WIN $250,000 WATER TOWER – Raroma Stable’s Fancy Sailor dug in through the final furlong to hold off Royal Causeway and win Sunday’s fifth running of the $250,000 Water Tower presented by Sterling Industrial at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Fancy Sailor was ridden to victory by Brian Hernandez Jr. and stopped the timer in 1:48.86 for 1 1/8 miles over the good turf.

 

Knick’s Honor led the field into the first turn while being pressed by Blackmail, Aguila Negra and Fancy Sailor through an opening quarter-mile in :23.78.

The leading group remained tightly bunched through six furlongs in 1:13.00, while Royal Causeway began advancing into contention approaching the stretch. Blackmail and Fancy Sailor led the field into the lane with Royal Causeway rallying three-wide. Fancy Sailor put Blackmail away in midstretch and dug in late to turn back Royal Causeway by one length.

“He puts himself in the race and gets into a good position,” Hernandez said. “All the credit goes to Brian and his team. The first time he let me get on this horse, he said, ‘I think I’ve got a good one for you.’ He waited on horses a little in the stretch after he put the favorite away, but once he got past the wire, he took off again. I think that shows he’s the type of horse who will continue to improve.”

It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Blackmail in third. He was followed by Brave Force, Knick’s Honor and Aguila Negra.

“I’ve always thought the more ground he gets, the better he’ll be,” Lynch said. “Hopefully, this gets us to the Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs. I’ve always wanted to get the mojo going with Brian and find him the right horse, and this looks like the one. It’s been a great weekend for the Aussies and Brian. He won the Arlington Million for Ian Wilkes, and now we’ve won this race today, so I think Brian is pretty high on the Aussies right now.”

Fancy Sailor returned $7.68.

With his victory in the Water Tower, Fancy Sailor earned $151,725 and improved his record to 5-3-0-1 with earnings of $273,310.

Fancy Sailor is a 3-year-old son of Justify out of the Hard Spun mare Tiz Ro. He was bred in Kentucky by Raroma Stable.

The Water Tower is named in honor of the historic Ellis Park water tower, which stood beyond the far turn and became one of the track’s most recognizable landmarks. The tower was removed in late 2024 because of structural-safety concerns, with its legacy continuing through the race named in its honor.

BOHEMIAN PREVAILS IN PHOTO IN $250,000 PUCKER UP – Carl R. Moore Management’s Bohemian unleashed a powerful late rally and got her head down at the wire to win Sunday’s 61st running of the $250,000 Pucker Up presented by AG Revolution (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Joe Sharp, Bohemian was ridden to victory by Umberto Rispoli and stopped the timer in 1:49.04 for 1 1/8 miles over the good turf.

 

East Jabip (IRE) broke well and led the field into the clubhouse turn, cruising through an opening quarter-mile in :24.19 with Embrace Time tracking about a length behind in second. The order remained unchanged through a half-mile in :49.03 and six furlongs in 1:13.43.

East Jabip and Embrace Time continued battling into the stretch, while Turner’s Charm and Bohemian began unleashing powerful rallies from the back of the field. Turner’s Charm struck the front late, but Bohemian surged in the final strides to prevail by a head.

“I spoke with Joe before the race and watched her replays,” Rispoli said. “He’s a very good trainer, and I knew she was live. She came with a big run down to the wire and got the job done.”

It was a half-length back to Embrace Time in third. She was followed by East Jabip, One Sweet Girl, Dreaming of Alys, How About Now and Infinite Sky.

“She was getting into position around the half-mile pole and then dropped back a little around the turn,” Sharp said. “She’s been very consistent with that late run, and it’s special to win this race with her. She’s the third foal out of a mare I trained. They’ve all had their quirks, but she knows how to get the job done.”

Sent off at odds of 6-1, Bohemian returned $15.64.

With her victory in the Pucker Up, Bohemian earned $150,175 and improved her record to 14-3-2-3 with earnings of $351,667.

Bohemian is a 3-year-old daughter of Essential Quality out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Eileen’s Song. She was bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms.