Market Rumor favored to score elusive stakes win in Ellis Park Turf

Randy Bloch and his wife, Kathy, will be on hand Sunday at Ellis Park, just like they normally are whenever one of their horses compete in a big race.

“We love this industry,” said Bloch, the owner of Horsemen’s Track and Equipment, the Louisville-based supplier of railings and a wide range of goods to racetracks across the country. “If we’ve got a runner in a stake, especially, we try to get there.”

Market Rumor, the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the $75,000 Ellis Park Turf, will carry the green-and-blue Bloch silks when she faces seven other fillies and mares in the highlight of a nine-race card at the western Kentucky track. The 5-year-old homebred has earned $352,183, mostly by finishing first or second in 11 of her 19 starts.

“She’s been fantastic for us,” said Bloch, 61. “She gives 100 percent every time she goes out there. Plus we’re a little partial to our homebreds because of all the time and worry you’ve invested in them. It’d be absolutely great to finally get a stakes win with her.”

Market Rumor is based at the Skylight training center just east of Louisville with trainer Ian Wilkes, who will give his son-in-law, jockey Chris Landeros, a leg up leaving the paddock for the 1 1/16-mile Ellis Turf. Landeros was aboard when the mare gutted out an April 23 allowance win at Keeneland.

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“We’re glad that Chris is back in saddle because he knows her so well,” said Bloch.

Market Rumor, by Afleet Alex, has earned Beyer Speed Figures ranging from 80 to 89 in each of her last 11 starts, an uncanny consistency that should help make her a solid favorite in the 18th running of this race.

Wilkes has a second contender in the Ellis Turf in Undisturbed (post 1, Florent Geroux), whose 2-for-2 record over the Ellis course led track oddsmaker (and race-caller) Jimmy McNerney to peg her as the 7-2 second choice. The 5-year-old gray most recently set the pace in the 1 1/2-mile Keertana on the Churchill Downs turf before settling for fourth.

Among the challengers to the uncoupled Wilkes pair are Demodog (post 8, Vince Cheminaud), a promising sort making her first start in the care of Brendan Walsh after being away nearly a year; Russian Mafia (post 5, Julio Felix), a Chicago invader coming off a 27-1 upset of the Romacaca at Hawthorne; and Joy of Painting (post 6, James Graham), most recently third with a career-best 86 Beyer in a rugged renewal of the Lady Canterbury in Minnesota.

The purse for the Ellis Turf includes $25,000 of Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund bonuses. All eight are eligible for the added money.

First post Sunday is 12:50 p.m. Central, with the Ellis Turf going as race 8 (4:10) and anchoring a program that includes three allowances (races 3, 6, 9) with maximum purses exceeding $60,000, including KTDF bonuses.

After Sunday, Ellis goes dark for four days before another three-day week begins Friday. A 23-day summer meet runs through Aug. 28, with the biggest dates being Aug. 7 and 14.