Saudi Crown's Return Victory Heads Ellis Park Stakes

FMQ Racing's talented Saudi Crown  returned to the winner's circle following a four-month freshening when he took a field gate-to-wire in the $150,000 R. A. "Cowboy" Jones Stakes at Ellis Park Aug. 11.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, the talented Saudi Crown completed one mile in 1:36.57, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Injunction  who finished second best to his classy rival.

A grade 1 winner as a 3-year-old in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), Saudi Crown has been highly thought of throughout his career. The R. A. "Cowboy" Jones was Saudi Crown's fifth-lifetime score from 10 starts. The son of Always Dreaming   has now banked a massive $3,070,985.

"This being his first start since competing overseas, it was a good spot to get back before bigger races this fall," Geroux said. "He usually shows a lot of speed but he doesn't always have to be on the lead. There were some other horses with speed in the race today but he took me to the front. He showed his class. I think he handled the one-turn mile today very well and this sort of distance suits him a lot better than the mile-and-a-quarter. I'd expect his campaign the rest of the fall to include races at a mile."

Happy American  finished a fast-closing third up the rail under Corey Lanerie.

Saudi Crown, sent off as the 3-5 post time favorite, paid $3.36 to win.

Video: R.A. "Cowboy" Jones S. (BT)

Most Wanted Stays Undefeated in Ellis Park Derby

Gary and Mary West's Most Wanted  needed every inch Ellis Park stretch while holding off Not This Boy  to win the $260,000 Ellis Park Derby.

Now undefeated from just three starts, Most Wanted covered one mile in 1:35.86 for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux.

Out of the gate, Most Wanted had a sharp beginning and spurted to a one-length margin over Not This Boy while cruising a quarter-mile in :24.27. Around the far turn, Most Wanted clung to his position at the rail while Not This Boy remained two wide and 6-5 favorite Who Dey  loomed in contention after breaking slow. Down the stretch, Most Wanted continued to find more and was able to hold Not This Boy at bay. Who Dey finished in third.

"When he broke that sharply I just wanted to make sure we had enough energy left for the stretch," Geroux said. "In each of his three starts he continued to improve. I think he's starting to get better. It just took some time for him to figure things out but the way he won today was very professional. When he dug in late in the stretch you could tell he didn't want to lose."

Most Wanted is a homebred son of Candy Ride   out of the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk . With his victory in the Ellis Park Derby, Most Wanted improved his purse earnings to a solid $279,553.

Video: Ellis Park Derby Presented by Hallway Feeds (BT)

Pigalle Gets Up in Final Groupie Doll Jump

Claiborne Farm's Pigalle  surged in the final jump to pull a 23-1 upset in the $175,000 Groupie Doll Stakes.

Ridden by Luan Machado for trainer Tommy Drury, Pigalle completed one mile in 1:36.99 while earning her fifth victory in 10 starts for earnings of $332,084.

It was a contested opening quarter-mile with Mystic Pleasure  and Hidden Connection  setting the tone in :23.80. Pigalle was relegated to seventh after breaking slowly from the gate.

Up the backside, Machado was able to improve Pigalle's position while allowing her to save ground at the rail. In the stretch, Mystic Pleasure continued to battle on the lead but was joined by a host of pursuers. Pigalle was tipped five-wide and was able to surge at the wire for a neck victory over Fancy  and Mystic Pleasure.

"She was a longshot but we really liked her before the race," Machado said. "I told Tommy I think we could win. I expected her to be close to the lead but she had a bad couple steps out of the gate and I had to work a position out of there. I'm glad Tommy had her ready to go."

Pigalle paid $48.86 to win.

"We all know Blame fillies get better with time," Drury said. "We got her some starter eligibility to gain her confidence. Now we are able to reap the rewards to being patient with her. Such an honor to win a race like this for Claiborne. She was all try and I'm just so proud of my filly."

Video: Groupie Doll S. (BT)

Fibber Upsets Tarifa in Audubon Oaks

Flatland Racing Stable's former $100,000 claim Fibber  was able to sit a perfect trip under jockey Axel Concepcion to pull a mild upset over Tarifa in the $173,500 Audubon Oaks.

While a trio of fillies were battling on the lead through a quarter in :22.84, Concepcion saved ground about a length off the pacesetters. Around the far turn, Concepcion continued to travel in hand until finding an opening three-wide to the outside of Tarifa  and Mink's Palace . At the eighth pole, Fibber continued to find her best strides, drawing clear down the center of the track while in hand. Tarifa held for second and Adogate  was third.

"I just tried to remain as patient as I could with her," Concepcion said. "When I was able to find ground she really responded for me."

Fibber is now a perfect 2-for-2 in trainer Chris Hartman's care since he claimed her two months ago at Churchill Downs. She completed the seven-furlong Audubon Oaks in 1:23.52 and paid $7.56 for her victory. With four victories in 10 starts, Fibber has earned $365,700.

"I thought the seven-eighths distance was well within her range and I think she can handle a mile, too," Hartman said. "Axel put on a beauty of a ride today."

Video: Audubon Oaks (BT)

Owen Almighty Impressive in Ellis Park Juvenile

Boardshorts Stables' Owen Almighty  surged late past Politicallycorrect  to win the $175,000 Ellis Park Juvenile by a widening 4 3/4 lengths under jockey Cristian Torres.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Owen Almighty improved to a perfect 2-for-2 with earnings of $174,760. He completed the seven-furlong distance in 1:24.36.

In the opening stages of the Ellis Park Juvenile, Owen Almighty sat third while dueling with longshot Enduring Spirit  and Politicallycorrect through a quarter-mile of :22.46. Around the far turn, Enduring Spirit began to fade while Owen Almighty and Politicallycorrect continued to battle up front. In mid-stretch, Owen Almighty started to get the better of his rival and powered home. Three Echoes  finished third.

"In his debut at Churchill I saw how professional he was," Torres said. "Today we had a great trip and perfect post on the outside. When I saw (Politicallycorrect) to my inside I knew I'd have to beat a good horse. At the quarter-pole, he responded really well and finished up strongly."

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Owen Almighty returned $3.34 to win.

"He's certainly taking us in the right direction from just two starts," Lynch said. "I'd have to think the Iroquois would be next after this race. Our goal with him is to get to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile this fall and he's on the right path."

Owen Almighty is a 2-year-old son of Speightstown out of the Bayern  mare Tempers Rising . He was bred in Kentucky by Mark Stanley.

Video: Ellis Park Juvenile S. (BT)

Texas-Bred Stilettos Steps Up to Win Ellis Park Debutante

Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing's Texas-bred Stilettos  strutted clear in deep stretch for a 1 1/2-length victory in the $129,505 Ellis Park Debutante.

Trained by Bret Calhoun, 2-year-old Stilettos impressed on debut at Lone Star Park when she cruised to a 16 3/4-length victory. Following that start, Stilettos was moved to Calhoun's Kentucky-base to begin preparing for the Ellis Park Debutante. She was ridden Sunday by Brian Hernandez Jr. and the duo completed the seven-furlong distance in 1:25.14.

After a sharp beginning, Stilettos was sent to the early lead where she dueled with Rich City Girl  through a quarter-mile in :22.65 and half-mile in :45.51. In the stretch, Stilettos began to draw clear of Rich City Girl with confident urging by Hernandez.

"She won in Texas on debut and it was so impressive," Hernandez said. "You don't see a horse win by 16 lengths and not have talent. Around the turn, my filly was doing everything so easily. I was watching Rich City Girl to our inside and she wasn't moving as fluidly around the turn. My filly got a little green in the stretch but that's probably because it was only her second time out. But she did all of that own her own."

Stilettos returned $8.10 to win. Rich City Girl was second and Adeera  was third.

"This filly was showing quite a bit in the morning down in Texas," Calhoun said. "The Collinsworths are from Texas and we decided to debut her at Lone Star. You never really know what they beat in those races but since she's gotten to Kentucky she's gotten bigger and stronger. I told Brian that she didn't have a lot of experience but she's been working in company quite a bit in the mornings. She broke like a rocket and we weren't planning to be on the lead. After she broke so fast Brian put her there and it really worked out. In the future I can't see why she can't stretch out. She doesn't seem to have much distance limitations at this stage."

Video: Ellis Park Debutante S. Presented by Hudson Family (BT)