McPeek tries to win Groupie Doll for third time with Kathballu

A lot of water has flown down the Ohio River since Ken McPeek won the Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis Park for the first time.

McPeek won the 2002 running of what then was known as the Gardenia Stakes with a filly named Minister’s Baby. And just as he did 14 years ago, McPeek will be watching Saturday from his summer base, Saratoga, when Kathballu looks to give the 54-year-old trainer a record-tying third victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 Groupie Doll.

Kathballu figures among the secondary wagering choices behind Ahh Chocolate in the annual showcase event at Ellis, the western Kentucky track located close to the mighty Ohio.

Kathballu, with Didiel Osorio to ride, was assigned post 10 in a one-mile race in which 13 fillies and mares are entered but only 12 can start. Bred and owned by Five D Thoroughbreds, Kathballu has competed primarily in stakes throughout a 16-race career in which the 4-year-old chestnut filly has earned $200,564. She most recently was second to Sarah Sis in the seven-furlong Chicago Handicap at Arlington Park.

“She’s a good filly,” said McPeek. “I think a mile is stretching it with her, but I think this is a really good spot. She’s got tactical speed. She’s doing great. Her race in Chicago was really good. I think she’s doing better than ever right now, too. I think she’s bigger and stronger as a 4-year-old than when she was 3.”

McPeek also won the Groupie Doll in 2012 with Salty Strike. Dale Romans (2004, 2008, 2014) is the only trainer to win the race three times. Romans is represented Saturday by Engaginglee, the runner-up to Curalina in the Grade 1 La Troienne in May.

Ahh Chocolate, trained by Neil Howard, is listed as a 4-1 program favorite for this 35th running of the Groupie Doll but figures to be considerably lower by post time with two graded stakes victories to her credit. The Stoneway Farm homebred Ahh Chocolate will have Chris Landeros aboard in place of Brian Hernandez Jr., who is riding the rich West Virginia Derby card on Saturday at Mountaineer.

The Saturday card also will feature the return of the $75,000 Ellis Juvenile, a seven-furlong race that drew six 2-year-olds. McPeek has a major player in Honor Thy Father, who figures to vie for favoritism with Cardinal Sin and Lookin At Lee.

The Ellis Juvenile is being run for the first time since 2008. The track discontinued the race and its filly counterpart, the Anna M. Fisher Debutante, the following year.

Ten races are carded for Saturday, including two allowances and two maiden special weights. The Juvenile is race 7, and the Groupie Doll is race 9. First post daily is 12:50 p.m. Central.

Special incentive for Bradley to win Groupie Doll

The Groupie Doll had been the Gardenia from 1982 to 2014 before Ellis owner Ron Geary renamed it to honor the two-time (2012-13) filly-and-mare sprint champion trained by Buff Bradley.

Bradley’s late father, Fred, grew up in western Kentucky and made sure to impart his fondness for Ellis to his family.

“When I was a kid, I was always thinking, ‘Man, I’d love to win the Gardenia. That’s the biggest race at Ellis Park,’ ” said Bradley, who has won or tied for four training titles at Ellis. “Now that it’s named the Groupie Doll, it’s really meaningful for me.”

Bradley has one of the longshots in this renewal in Crown D’Oro, a 4-year-old filly owned by Mandy Pope, who bought Groupie Doll as a broodmare prospect two years ago for $3.1 million.

Maiden winner sent to Brown

Sir Douglas, a 4 1/2-length winner of a July 10 maiden race at Ellis, has been sold privately and was recently transferred from the barn of Jinks Fires to Chad Brown in New York.

Another 2-year-old maiden winner at Ellis might be gone before long, too: Sully’s Dream, a Colonel John filly, won her debut last Saturday by 12 lengths.

“The toughest thing for me will be keeping her in the barn,” said trainer Kellyn Gorder.

◗ With Friday marking the midway point of a 29-day meet, the Ellis jockeys’ race is very tight, with Robby Albarado (13 wins) holding a slim lead. Four other riders are within three wins of Albarado atop the standings, including Corey Lanerie (12 wins), who on Sunday became the 70th jockey in North American racing history to win 4,000 races.

◗ Ellis will offer its new program called “Making of a racehorse: Let’s get it started!” every Saturday morning in August after about 30 interested fans showed up for the inaugural program last weekend featuring jockey Didiel Osorio, trainer John Hancock, and starter Scott Jordan.

◗ Jockey Sophie Doyle will return from a 10-week layoff with one mount Friday and three Saturday, including longshot Emmajestic in the Groupie Doll. Doyle fractured a collarbone in a May 26 spill at Churchill Downs.

◗ The highlight of an eight-race Friday card at Ellis is a $42,000 allowance that drew seven older horses going a mile on the main track.