Molly Morgan draws rail for Gardenia Stakes

Molly Morgan, the winner of the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis in June at Churchill Downs, figures as a solid favorite when the Grade 3 Gardenia Stakes is run Saturday at Ellis Park in western Kentucky.

Molly Morgan is one of nine fillies and mares entered in the $100,000 Gardenia, the annual marquee race of the Ellis meet. The 5-year-old mare will be ridden by Jesus Castanon when breaking from the rail in the one-mile race. She most recently ran fifth in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap.

“This seemed like the right spot for her,” said trainer Dale Romans. “The timing is right from her last race, and then we could maybe run her back at Churchill in the Locust Grove” on Sept. 6.

Quiet Success (post 7, Leandro Goncalves), scratched Saturday from a stakes at Mountaineer Park by trainer Tom Amoss, is among the other contenders.

From the rail, this is the Gardenia field: Molly Morgan, Frivolous, Livi Makenzie, Tapit’s World, Liberated, Interest Free, Quiet Success, Lucy’s Revenge, and Ocean Bertie.