On Ellis Park's first day of prep races for the lucrative Kentucky Downs meet, it was a lucrative day at the windows. None of the three stakes on the card were won by favorites, with Beach Gold springing the biggest upset, with a powerful rally to win the $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile and returning $47.78 to his backers.
The win by the Omaha Beach colt, who was ridden by Keith Asmussen for trainer Patrick Biancone, earned him an automatic berth into the Grade 3, $2.5 million Mint Millions Invitational on Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs.
This was the stakes debut for Beach Gold, who came to Ellis Park off back-to-back allowance-level wins at Gulfstream Park. He was eighth of nine early as Encino set a pace of 22.26 for the opening quarter and 45.36 for the half on firm turf, while pressed by Epic Ride. Beach Gold was able to work out an inside rally into the stretch, and was up by three-quarters of a length over Epic Ride, who outdueled Encino by a half-length for the place.
Aided by the early fractions, the final time was 1:31.76, establishing a course record for the mile. The previous mark of 1:31.98 was set in this race four years ago by She'sonthewarpath.
Earlier on the card, Tomasello ($11.56) posted the upset in the $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Nashville Derby Stakes. Tomasello had been third in the Audubon Stakes last time out, behind World Beater - who, less than 20 minutes later, sprang his own upset in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby up north.
With Fernando De La Cruz in the irons for Mark Casse, Tomasello tracked the moderate pace set by Yinzer, edged up on him with about three furlongs to go, and prevailed by a head after a sustained drive. They finished the nine furlongs in 1:47.13.
This race earned Tomasello an automatic berth in the Grade 3, $3.5 million Nashville Derby on Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs. The race is the second-richest stakes for open 3-year-olds in North America, trailing only the $5 million Kentucky Derby.
Pondering ($6.74), who is developing a penchant for close finishes, won the $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint as the second choice. This was her first stakes win after finishing second by three-quarters of a length in the Pea Patch last month at Ellis for Brendan Walsh. The first four across the line in the Preview Sprint were Pondering, hot pacesetter Foxxy Cleopatra, favored Bling, and Irish Maxima - and they were separated by just half a length each.
Tyler Gaffalione was in the irons as Pondering finished the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.68. This was the third stakes win for Gaffalione since he returned to riding at Ellis in mid-July, following an extended break to recover from an ankle injury.
This race awarded the winner an automatic berth into the Grade 2, $2 million Mint Ladies Sprint on Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs.
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