Sweet Acclaim auditions for Saratoga trip in Ellis Park Turf

Brad Cox doesn’t yet know whether Sweet Acclaim will be among the dozen or so horses he will soon ship to Saratoga. But there’s little doubt the Irish-bred mare would be competitive at the Spa, perhaps even in graded company. And that’s why Sweet Acclaim is likely to be an odds-on favorite when the $50,000 Ellis Park Turf is run Saturday as the first of five stakes at the western Kentucky track’s summer meet.

Sweet Acclaim most recently was second in a photo to her Cox stablemate Cash Control in the Grade 3 Mint Julep on the Churchill Downs turf. The 5-year-old mare seems to bring a decisive class edge into the Ellis Turf, which goes at 1 1/16 miles as the eighth of nine Saturday races, but Cox is trying to make sure of one important thing.

“We’re just trying to make her a stakes winner,” he said. “Let’s see her run first before we decide whether she’ll go to Saratoga.”

Joe Rocco Jr. has the call on Sweet Acclaim, who will break from post 8 in a field of nine fillies and mares. Among her top challengers are Bugle, Personal Diary, and another Cox runner, King’s Ghost.

Cox is having a breakthrough year, having already won 18 stakes in 2016, including three last Saturday: Spelling Again in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park and Extra Credit and Believe in Bertie in $100,000 Louisiana-bred races at Evangeline Downs. His stable earnings into this week stood at $3.27 million, ranking him 12th among North American trainers.

Cox said Spelling Again is a possibility to run next in the annual Ellis showcase race, the Grade 3 Groupie Doll, on Aug. 6.

First post Saturday is 12:50 p.m. Central, with the Ellis Turf set for 4:10.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sweet Acclaim, by Acclamation

Last 3 Beyers: 96-90-82

◗ Her big effort in the Mint Julep was preceded by visually impressive victories in allowance races at Fair Grounds and Churchill and will reinforce the notion that she should be stoutly favored here.

◗ Robby Albarado rode her in the Mint Julep but vacates in favor of riding the stakes-laden Arlington Park card Saturday.

Personal Diary, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 83-81-87

◗ The winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in 2014 for the Humphrey family is probably more effective at a longer distance but still has the class to be a danger.

◗ Chestnut mare adds blinkers while favorably drawn in post 2 with Jack Gilligan drawing the riding assignment.

King’s Ghost, by Ghostzapper

Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-72

◗ She and Albarado were permitted to walk the proverbial dog in an 11-1 upset last month over the Churchill turf in what resulted in a lifetime-high Beyer Speed Figure.

Bugle, by War Front

Last 3 Beyers: 82-79-88

◗ Rail-drawn filly has raced just once since last August but shows a nice series of recent workouts at Keeneland for Eddie Kenneally.