Hope Mission was bet like she couldn’t lose the $150,000 Ellis Park Turf on closing day at Ellis Park, and she did not.
Pulling a perfect pocket trip under Tyler Gaffalione, Hope Mission came off the fence in upper stretch and pushed past Next Up on the way to a one-length victory in this turf route for older fillies and mares. Rose Palace, who set a slow pace – 51.22 for her opening half – held on for third behind Next Up.
Set as the 2-1 second choice on the morning line, Hope Mission went off heavily favored and paid $3.52. Morning-line favorite Everland drifted to 7-1 and never came close to contending while checking in seventh of eight.
Brendan Walsh trains Hope Mission for her breeder, Godolphin, who mated Medaglia d’Oro with the Distorted Humor mare Arabian Hope to produce 4-year-old Hope Mission. The filly, fifth in her stakes debut last month at Horseshoe Indianapolis, won for just the second time in eight starts. She clocked 1:43.34 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm course.
The Kentucky circuit shifts to Kentucky Downs on Thursday.
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