Molly Morgan targets Keeneland's Spinster

Molly Morgan, the winner of the Grade 3 Gardenia at Ellis Park last Saturday, is being pointed for the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 5, trainer Dale Romans said Wednesday.

The Spinster, a Win and You’re In prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Oct. 31, is among the most prestigious races for fillies and mares in Kentucky and could reveal whether she fits in the Breeders’ Cup. This fall, the Spinster will be contested on Keeneland’s new dirt track, which is being laid down this summer, replacing its synthetic Polytrack surface.

Romans said he was undecided whether to run Molly Morgan in the interim, though a race such as the $100,000 Locust Grove at Churchill Downs could be a possibility. He said he will need to determine whether that race or another “is too quick back to the Spinster.”

Another prominent filly from Kentucky, multiple Grade 1 winner On Fire Baby, has been working toward a start in the Locust Grove as a prep for the Spinster.

Molly Morgan, a 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper owned by Bill Cubbedge, is enjoying her finest year in 2014. In addition to winning the Gardenia, she won the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs and was second in the Grade 1 La Troienne there.

Friday feature wide-open

Friday’s sixth race at Ellis Park drew an above-average second-level allowance field of seven that has a couple of stakes-placed runners in Devious D’Oro and Adrianne G, plus two fillies coming off two straight wins apiece, Taylor Street and Hunting Hill.

The race, contested at six furlongs for a purse of $37,500, is wide-open, with all four prime contenders having comparable chances of victory. If an edge belongs to any filly, it might be Taylor Street, who ran six furlongs in 1:09.76 in winning a first-level allowance at Ellis last out July 18, earning a career-best 78 Beyer Speed Figure. She is the only horse with a race over the track at the current meet.

Calvin Borel rides Taylor Street, a 4-year-old daughter of Street Sense, for trainer Ian Wilkes.

Pedroza resumes riding

Jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr. returns to riding Friday at Ellis Park with mounts in the fifth race on Calculus, the sixth on Ms Hoochie Coochie, and the eighth on Joe Flyer.

Pedroza, who broke his collarbone in a spill in early July at Ellis, began breezing horses last week to regain fitness, and his agent, Joe Pauley, began targeting Friday for his return. He has been away from riding for six weeks after having a plate inserted in his collarbone to stabilize multiple fractures.

Guilliams is lone remaining stakes

Following last week’s Gardenia Stakes, just one stakes race remains at Ellis Park this summer, the $50,000 Cliff Guilliams Handicap on closing day, Sept. 1. It is named in memory of the longtime Daily Racing Form and Equibase chart caller, who died in 2008.

Racing in Kentucky shifts to Churchill Downs on Sept. 4.