Record stakes purses await this summer at Ellis Park, where $4 million is available across 18 races during the 25-day season that begins July 3.
Ellis Park's stakes lineup is led by the $400,000 Pucker Up (G3), one of seven races across Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend, Aug. 2-3. This stakes-filled weekend of racing also includes the $300,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup (listed), $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile (listed), $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint (listed), $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile, $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Nashville Derby, and $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint.
Two other top stakes events scheduled during the meet are the $300,000 Ellis Park Derby (listed) and $200,000 Groupie Doll (listed), taking place Aug. 10. The Ellis Park Derby and Groupie Doll are part of a six stakes lineup that day, which also includes the $200,000 Ellis Park Juvenile, $200,000 Ellis Park Debutante, $200,000 Audubon Oaks, and $200,000 R. A. "Cowboy" Jones Memorial.
The meet will start with Thursday-Sunday racing schedule, then shift to a Saturday-Monday format from July 13-Aug. 18 before concluding with a Friday-Sunday schedule, Aug. 22-24.
The full stakes calendar (all purses include funds from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund):
| Date | Race | Grade | Distance | Conditions | KTDF |
| Friday, July 4 | $150,000 Dade Park Dash | 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | 3yo | $50,000 | |
| Sunday, July 6 | $150,000 Pea Patch | 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | 3yo fillies | $50,000 | |
| Sunday, July 20 | $150,000 Jeff Hall Memorial | 6 ½ furlongs | 3yo and up | $50,000 | |
| Monday, July 21 | $150,000 Twin Bridges | 6 furlongs | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $50,000 | |
| Saturday, Aug. 2 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile | 1 mile (turf) | 3yo and up | $125,000 | |
| Saturday, Aug. 2 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint | 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $125,000 | |
| Saturday, Aug. 2 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Nashville Derby | 1 1/8 miles (turf) | 3yo | $125,000 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 3 | $400,000 Pucker Up | grade 3 | 1 1/8 miles (turf) | 3yo fillies | $150,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 3 | $300,000 Ky Downs Preview Turf Cup | listed | 1 ¼ miles (turf) | 3yo and up | $150,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 3 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Turf Sprint | listed | 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | 3yo and up | $125,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 3 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile | listed | 1 mile (turf) | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $125,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 10 | $300,000 Ellis Park Derby | listed | 1 mile | 3yo | $150,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 10 | $200,000 Groupie Doll | listed | 1 mile | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $100,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 10 | $200,000 Ellis Park Juvenile | 7 furlongs | 2yo | $100,000 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 10 | $200,000 Ellis Park Debutante | 7 furlongs | 2yo fillies | $100,000 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 10 | $200,000 Audubon Oaks | 7 furlongs | 3yo fillies | $100,000 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 10 | $200,000 R. A. “Cowboy” Jones Memorial | 1 mile | 3yo and up | $100,000 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 24 | $150,000 Ellis Park Turf Stakes | 1 1/16 miles (turf) | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $50,000 | |
