The richest program of the 31-day summer meet at Ellis Park in western Kentucky takes place Sunday with five stakes led by the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby. Although there are no “name” horses in the field of six 3-year-olds, some of the most successful stables on the Kentucky circuit are represented. Colonel Bowman, trained by Brad Cox, and Sermononthemount, trained by Tom Amoss, are foremost among the starters in the 1 1/8-mile race. Colonel Bowman, a Godolphin homebred, has been working well at Ellis for assistant Jorgito Abrego since winning a one-mile allowance there July 17, Cox said this week from Saratoga. “I felt like he moved forward last time,” Cox said. Colonel Bowman got a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 85 in his last race. “I always thought he was a horse that would stretch out in time,” Cox said. “He’s a strong, stout horse, carries a good bit of weight. Gradually, we stretched him out, and we’re hopeful that with even more ground he’ll get even better.” :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analysis, and expert picks. Sermononthemount (post 5, James Graham) furthered his stature in the upper tier of the Midwest’s 3-year-olds by finishing second last month in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby to Mr. Wireless, who wheeled back last Saturday to win the West Virginia Derby. Sermononthemount competed for a claiming tag as recently as May. “This will give him a chance to really show what he can do at more distance,” Amoss said. “He’s an improving young horse.” Steve Asmussen, with Darren Fleming deputizing, is represented by Super Stock (post 2), with Ricardo Santana Jr. flying in from Saratoga to ride. Super Stock has finished no better than fourth in three starts since his 12-1 upset of the Arkansas Derby in April. There Goes Harvard (post 4, Joe Talamo) and Starrininmydreams (post 6, Corey Lanerie) also figure to attract tote action, while Hanks (post 3, Miguel Mena) surely will be the longest shot of the group. The Ellis Derby goes as the seventh of nine races on a card that starts at 12:50 p.m. Central. Mostly cloudy skies and a high of 81 are in the forecast for the Henderson, Ky., racetrack. This is the fourth running of the Ellis Derby. The first two were run at a mile before the race was lengthened to 1 1/8 miles last year, when Art Collector won. Ellis racing secretary Dan Bork said the small field that turned out this year could mean the race may possibly revert to the shorter distance in 2022. The Ellis Derby directly precedes the $125,000 Groupie Doll (race 8), the longtime former Ellis showcase known until 2015 as the Gardenia. The earlier stakes are the Ellis Debutante (race 3), Ellis Juvenile (race 4), and Audubon Oaks (race 5). Lasix is not permitted in Ellis stakes or in 2-year-old races.