Epic Ride provided John Ennis with his first Kentucky Derby (G1) starter in 2024, checking in 14th at Churchill Downs. Now, the horse is responsible for the young trainer's first graded stakes victory.
Racing Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs in the $2,492,500 Mint Millions Invitational Stakes (G3T), the 4-year-old pulled off a 14-1 surprise, leading from start to finish to defeat favored runner-up Lagynos by two lengths.
Beach Gold ran third, ahead of Brilliant Berti in fourth.
The winner, gelded this summer, dashed a mile on good turf under Edgar Morales in 1:32.42 following splits of :22.41, :44.83, 1:08.32, and 1:20.05. He paid $30.54 to win.
Bred by Fred Hertrich III in Kentucky out of the Gio Ponti mare Pick a Time, Epic Ride notched his second stakes win in 16 starts after initially taking the ungraded Leonatus Stakes last year at 3. He has also placed in five other stakes for George Hough's Welch Racing, three of which were at the graded level.
"He's danced with them all. I knew there was a big one in there someday," Ennis said.
Video: FanDuel TV Mint Millions Invitational S. (G3T)
Stellify Quick on Short Rest, Takes Ladies Marathon
In the last nine days, Stellify has run nearly three miles over the Kentucky Downs course and never saw another horse's tail. Despite the quick return to the races, the 4-year-old Justify filly lost none of her early foot while taking the $1,806,666 Ladies Marathon Invitational Stakes (G3T) Sept. 6.
Exiting what was believed to be her second consecutive course record in an allowance Aug. 28, pending a review of the new timing system at the end of the Kentucky Downs meet, Stellify was quick from the gate for jockey Florent Geroux while setting fractions of :26.10, :49.57, and 1:13.00 before finishing 1 5/16 miles in 2:06.84.
READ: Speedy Stayer Stellify Back Quick in Ladies Marathon
Way to Be Marie was 2 3/4 lengths behind in second and Miwa, who also returned from an opening day win Aug. 28, finished third.
Trained by Brad Cox, Stellify has won four straight starts at distances of 1 1/8 miles or longer for owners Elements Racing, George Messina, and Michael Lee.
Paying $6.22 to her backers Saturday, the WinStar Farm-bred filly increased her career earnings to $1,442,604.
With her affinity for long distances and easy win off short rest, Cox and Lee discussed in the winner's circle about putting the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 1 under consideration.
"It was her first graded stakes opportunity; she passed with flying colors," Cox said. "I'd like to think there's more left, and I think there very well could be."
Video: Light & Wonder Ladies Marathon Invitational S. (G3T)
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Next for Shisospicy
In romping in the $1,867,100 Music City Stakes (G2T), Shisospicy ran like the fastest 3-year-old filly turf sprinter in the country.
In a couple of months, she'll get a chance to prove if she is simply the best grass sprinter, period. Trainer Jose D'Angelo said after her three-length victory over stablemate Cloe that he would aim her for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
The way she performed Saturday, she will likely start at Del Mar as one of the favorites. Pressing the Music City pace through the opening quarter-mile in :21.83, she took over with splits of :44.58 and 1:08.40 on her way to finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.54. Never threatened under Irad Ortiz Jr., she paid $8.42 to win as the third choice in the field of 12.
Tabiti ran third. Favored Kilwin, winner of the Test Stakes (G1) this summer at Saratoga Race Course, ran eighth.
D'Angelo said Shisospicy would come into the Breeders' Cup without a start in between. She ran well when racing fresh off a layoff Saturday, her first start since she ran 15th when sent to Royal Ascot to race in the June 20 Commonwealth Cup (G1). She had won three in a row against 3-year-old fillies preceding her trip overseas, including two stakes.
"At Ascot, we were unlucky there. That's why I took my time, gave her enough time to prepare for this race, and she responded very well," D'Angelo said.
Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing's Shisospicy, bred by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt in Kentucky, is a gray or roan daughter of Mitole out of the Into Mischief mare Mischief Galore.
Video: AGS Music City S. (G2T)
Plensa Aces Stakes Debut in Gun Runner
Geroux also had success from off the pace two races later in the $1,897,778 Gun Runner Stakes, guiding Plensa from midpack to run down Giocoso in the final yards, winning by a length while completing a mile in 1:33.51. Namaron finished third.
Pulling an upset while paying $47.20, the son of Caravaggio was making his stakes debut for trainer Rusty Arnold and owners Mill Ridge Farm and Frank Garrison. The 3-year-old colt had been entered in an allowance the prior weekend, but was unable to draw in. It turned out to be a good change of fortune.
Geroux rode the colt in his maiden victory two starts back at Churchill Downs and was excited to be back aboard.
"I always loved him," Geroux said. "I think the most important thing on this course, you need to let the horse dictate where they are comfortable and where they want to be."
Bred in Kentucky by Frank Garrison and NATO et al, Plensa's Gun Runner victory was his second in six starts and pushed his earnings to $1,266,319.
