Wilbo heads Good Lord Stakes

A last-out winner of the Aristides at Churchill, Wilbo is listed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Sunday feature at Ellis, the $75,000 Good Lord Stakes. But trainer Chris Hartman isn’t too sure the 7-year-old gelding will actually start.

“If it’s too hot, I’m not running,” Hartman said Friday from Churchill.

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Racing was canceled here Friday and Saturday because of oppressive heat. A slight cool-down (high of 91) was forecast by Sunday, and officials said they were optimistic the nine-race card could proceed as scheduled. Bork said the cancellations were announced early so as to allow out-of-town fans and horsemen to make contingency plans.

“We thought it was in everyone’s interest to take these two days off,” said Bork, adding the track intends to make up the cards on Monday, July 29, and probably another Monday in August.

In all, 10 older horses are entered in the 43rd running of the 6 1/2-furlong Good Lord. First post is 12:50 p.m. Central. Without Wilbo, favoritism could be thrown wide open, with Seven Trumpets, Done Deal, and Believe in Royalty ranking as the top contenders.

The Good Lord replaced the long-running Don Bernhardt last year on the annual stakes schedule at Ellis. Good Lord, a foal of 2007, won three straight renewals (2012-13-14) of the Bernhardt for the late Forrest Kaelin.

Eskenforit emerges unscathed

Five days after Eskenforit unseated jockey Julien Leparoux when going to his knees at the start of the Indiana Derby, trainer Steve Margolis was able to actually enjoy the road trip from Churchill to Indiana Grand. Margolis was the winning trainer Thursday when She’sonthewarpath rallied to capture the $100,000 Ta Wee Stakes at the suburban Indianapolis track.

“Things went a lot better this time,” said Margolis.

Eskenforit, a 3-year-old gelding owned by the Brilliant Racing LLC of Joe Kristufek and partners, emerged from the incident “with a couple of little nicks, nothing bad,” said Margolis. The $100,000 Ellis Park Derby on the undercard of the Aug. 11 Groupie Doll is a possible target, he added.

Leparoux sustained a laceration but was expected back in action this week at Saratoga.