Last-out Ellis maiden winners score in Kentucky Downs juvenile stakes
FRANKLIN, Ky. – Last-out maiden winners at Ellis Park were successful in their initial stakes forays Monday at turf-only Kentucky Downs when Turnerloose and Tiz the Bomb raced to victory in their respective divisions for 2-year-olds.
Turnerloose was an easy winner of the $500,000 Aristocrat Juvenile Fillies an hour or so before Tiz the Bomb rallied up the rail to capture the $497,500 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile. Both were run at a mile over firm going on a terrific 11-race Monday program anchored by the WinStar Mint Million.
Purses for both races included as much as $250,000 in bonuses from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
Turnerloose easily in Juv. Fillies
There was very little suspense or surprise to the stretch run of the 10th running of the Juvenile Fillies as Turnerloose, the 2-1 favorite in a field of eight, widened late on her Brad Cox stablemate, Yin Yang, the 2-1 second choice, to prevail by five lengths.
“She was pulling on me pretty much all the race,” said winning jockey Florent Geroux. “She was on a mission.”
Prominent from the start, Turnerloose put away from pacesetting Verylittlecents turning for home and had more than enough to rebuff a mild midstretch bid from Yin Yang, who had overcome a moderately troubled start to enter contention for red-hot jockey Joel Rosario. Verylittlecents faded to third, another 7 1/4 lengths back.
Turnerloose, by Nyquist, is owned by Ike and Dawn Thrash. Making her first start since winning her July 16 debut over the Ellis turf, she returned $6 after finishing in 1:36.19.
It was the second stakes win of opening weekend for Cox, who was represented by the victorious Adventuring in the Dueling Grounds Oaks on Sunday.
The $2 all-Cox exacta (2-6) paid $18.20, the $1 trifecta (2-6-3) returned $56, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-6-3-8) was worth $16.36.
Tiz the Bomb wins Juvenile Mile
Midpack for much of the way in the 16th running of the Juvenile, Tiz the Bomb surged up the inside with Brian Hernandez Jr. riding, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Kiss the Sky, the 2-1 favorite in a field of 10 colts and geldings. The winner paid $14.20 after finishing in 1:35.83.
“He put us in the right spot and traveled all the way around there looking like a winner,” said Hernandez.
Tiz the Bomb, owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III Ltd., was making his grass debut after a pair of maiden races, the second one resulting in a 14 1/4-length romp in a July 2 off-turf maiden race at Ellis. A $330,000 yearling purchase, he was sired by Hit It a Bomb, winner of the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland.
“He’s got a license to be a good one,” said winning trainer Ken McPeek. “We’re thrilled with the way he ran.”
Play Action Pass led for much of the way before weakening late to finish third.
The $2 exacta (9-3) paid $52, the $1 trifecta (9-3-4) returned $185.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (9-3-4-10) was worth $110.05.