Ellis Park notes: Saez will appeal suspension

Sebastian Saez has been held blameless for the disqualification of his mount, Snickerboxer, from first to third in the final race Saturday at Ellis Park, but the 16-year-old apprentice still has a three-day suspension hanging over him.

Saez was suspended for a July 5 incident in which Ready by You was disqualified from second to seventh. His agent, Julio Espinoza, said the penalty will be appealed.

Saez is the younger brother of Juan Saez, who easily led the Ellis standings last summer before being fatally injured in an October spill at Indiana Grand.

◗ Brad Cox is among the dozen-plus Kentucky trainers who have been shipping horses to Saratoga for the meet that starts next Friday, July 24. Cox has the early lead atop the Ellis standings with four wins from eight starts but estimates that his meet “probably will slow down a little” when he sends 12 of his best horses north.

◗ Perhaps the most impressive 2-year-old so far at the Ellis meet has been Dothraki Queen, a Pure Prize filly who overcame a slow start to win her career debut Sunday by seven lengths, earning a 61 Beyer Speed Figure from the one-mile turf race.

Via Twitter, trainer Ken McPeek said: “She could be a very special filly,” adding that her next start will be in a stakes at Saratoga or at the September meet at Churchill.

◗ Phil Sims, the trainer and co-owner of Don’t Tell Sophia, recently confirmed the retirement of the 7-year-old mare after revealing in May that she had been bred to Medaglia d’Oro. Don’t Tell Sophia earned nearly $1.4 million and finished her 24-race career with runner-up finishes in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Falls City Handicap last fall.

◗ The Kentucky division of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association is sponsoring the annual laptop-computer giveaway after each of the nine races Sunday at Ellis. Eligibility is limited to college students with valid identification for the 2015 fall semester.