Sensitive looks for black type in Ellis Park Turf

While busy with preparations for the upcoming Saratoga meet, some of the top trainers on the Kentucky circuit will pause Sunday for the $75,000 Ellis Park Turf, the first of 11 stakes this summer at Ellis Park in western Kentucky.

Brad Cox has one of the favorites in the 1 1/16-mile Ellis Turf in an LNJ Foxwoods mare named Sensitive. Handy and consistent, the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred will have Shaun Bridgmohan aboard breaking from post 7 in a field of nine fillies and mares.

“She’s usually right there, and we’re expecting another big effort,” Cox said. “Obviously, we’d love to see her become a black-type winner Sunday.”

Sensitive has finished second in all three starts this year, most recently being defeated in a photo at 3-5 in the Lone Star Turf on Memorial Day in Texas.

Rusty Arnold, like Cox, will spend the coming weeks at Saratoga. He will be represented in the Ellis Turf by Smart Shot (post 1, Corey Lanerie), a Calumet Farm homebred who was 18-1 when just a neck shy of upsetting Mom’s On Strike in the Grade 3 Mint Julep last month on the Churchill Downs turf.

One other Spa-bound trainer, Brendan Walsh, has a serious threat in Kallio (post 4, Julien Leparoux), most recently second to the Cox-trained Juliet Foxtrot in a Churchill allowance.

The balance of the lineup is Flammetta, American Frolic, Valentine Wish, Over Thinking, Stave, and Lady Mamba.

With the possibility of rain in the local forecast through the weekend, Over Thinking, the lone supplementary entry in the field, might be the chief threat in the unlikely event the race has to be transferred to the main track.

The Ellis Turf is the eighth of nine races on a Sunday card that starts at 12:50 p.m. Central. The feature goes at 4:10 and the last race at 4:40. One $51,000 allowance (race 4) is part of the undercard, along with two $50,000 maiden specials (races 3 and 7).

After Sunday, Ellis goes dark for four days before the first three-day weekend of the meet starts Friday. The 29-day meet runs through Sept. 2.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sensitive, by Divine Park

Last 3 Beyers: 89-85-91

◗ Stakes-placed on two prior occasions, this mare shows three sharp works at Churchill since her reliable rally came up just a bit short at Lone Star.

Smart Shot, by Skipshot

Last 3 Beyers: 92-86-75

◗ After winning an allowance on the Churchill turf during Kentucky Derby week, this chestnut filly earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure with a torrid late surge in the Mint Julep.

Kallio, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 84-84-78

◗ An allowance winner at the Gulfstream championship meet, makes her second stakes start after failing to factor into the 11-furlong Orchid.