Indiana Downs: 'Ellens' gets going

Ellens Lucky Star, who makes her first start of the year, heads a field of eight Indiana-bred fillies and mares entered in the $40,000 Shelby County Stakes.

A winner of 5 of 10 starts in 2003, including three straight stakes at Hoosier Park last fall, Ellens Lucky Star shows five recorded works in the past month at Churchill Downs in preparation for the six-furlong Shelby County. Trained by Greg Foley, her latest work is a sharp four-furlong breeze from the gate in 47.30 seconds Wednesday morning.

Rafael Bejarano will be in from Kentucky to ride Ellens Lucky Star, who starts as the 123-pound highweight under the allowance conditions of the Shelby County.

Ellens Lucky Star is 5-2-3 from 11 career starts and has over $109,000 in earnings. A 5-year-old daughter of Crown Ambassador, she figures to get a good stalking trip from her outside post Saturday evening.

Down by the Sea, a 3-year-old, may be the main threat to the favorite. Down by the Sea recorded back-to-back gate-to-wire scores against Indiana-bred stakes company at Hoosier last November.

Down by the Sea also showed ability against open company in 2003, nearly scoring a major upset when second in the $100,000 Bassinet at River Downs.

Trainer Joe Davis has named Bill Troilo to ride at 115 pounds.