Ellis Park: Flattermejim lukewarm favorite in turf allowance

Horseplayers say they will take a full field with something like a 4-1 favorite any day of the week. That just happens to be Saturday, when the nominal feature at Ellis Park fits that very description.

The nine-race program at the western Kentucky track has a $33,500 second-level allowance as its richest race – and it just might be the best betting event on the card, too. Flattermejim, with Corey Lanerie riding for veteran trainer David Vance, is the 4-1 morning-line choice in the 1 1/16-mile turf race.

Flattermejim went through his first allowance condition with flair on opening day of the two-month Ellis meet and most likely would loom a major threat with a similar effort Saturday. The 6-year-old Flattermejim has reached peak form in recent months after competing in lower-level claiming events earlier in his career.

The next stakes at Ellis is the annual meet showcase, the Grade 3, $100,000 Gardenia Stakes on Aug. 10. First post daily is 12:50 p.m. Central.