Ova Charged Headlines Aug. 3 Kentucky Downs Preview Day

Brittlyn Stable's extremely talented Louisiana-bred mare Ova Charged is set to make her Ellis Park debut when she faces seven rivals in the Aug. 3 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes, one of three stakes races on the first day of Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend. Run at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf and carrying a purse of up to $250,000 with incentives for Kentucky-breds, the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint is one of seven stakes races taking place this weekend at the Henderson, Ky., track. Along with the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint, Saturday's program includes the $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Nashville Derby and $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes. All purses include supplements from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. The Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint will go as the seventh race with a post time of 2:50 p.m. CT. The first post on the 10-race card is at 11:50 a.m. Ova Charged has dominated her 18-start career with 15 victories and earnings of $918,575. Among her 15 wins are 12 stakes victories, most notably the Unbridled Sidney Stakes (G3T) on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs. She is 7-for-7 since she began racing for trainer Shane Wilson in December of last year. She is 5-for-5 over her career on grass, including a victory on turf when trained by Jose Camejo. "She ran on it one time and it was her highest speed figure and the largest margin of victory she ever had," Wilson said of her form before he began training her. "So it was always the mindset to get her back on the turf, with her mother being a stakes-winning turf mare. But I didn't think it would be this big a difference once she got on it. It was a pleasant surprise. We'll try to keep her on the turf as much as we can, that's for sure, for now." Jockey Corey Lanerie will ride Ova Charged from post 8. Watch: Wilson Brings Louisiana-Bred Speedster Ova Charged to Ellis Park Another accomplished filly entered in the race is Ashbrook Farm and Upland Flats Racing's Red Carpet Ready, who's set for her turf debut following three graded stakes victories on dirt. Trained by Rusty Arnold II, Red Carpet Ready sports a solid record of five wins from nine starts including victories in the Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3), 2023 Eight Belles Stakes (G3), 2023 Forward Gal Stakes(G3), and 2022 Fern Creek Stakes. Red Carpet Ready will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. from post 5. Also entered in the race is Rittdiculous Gazmanian Stable's Pea Patch Stakes winner Niki Nine Doors. Trained by Chris Davis, Niki Nine Doors scored an 8-1 upset victory four weeks ago in the Pea Patch Stakes under jockey Gerardo Corrales. The daughter of Cairo Prince will break from post 6. The winner of the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint will receive an automatic berth to the $1.5 million Ladies Turf Sprint (G2T) Aug. 31 at Kentucky Downs. (Purse money for the Ladies Turf Sprint is pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. Recently, Kentucky Downs announced the purse of the race would be increased from $1 million to $1.5 million. All purses count KTDF funds.) Following the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint is the Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile and the Kentucky Downs Preview Nashville Derby. Those races also provide their winners an automatic berth in upcoming lucrative stakes at Kentucky Downs.