Ellis Park to Offer 18 Stakes Worth Record $4 Million

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):