Flashy American, Willow Hills in Groupie Doll

Preston Stables' Flashy American, who last raced in the grade I Delaware Handicap, and the lightly raced but ultra-consistent Willow Hills are among an overflow field of fillies and mares entered for the $100,000 Groupie Doll Stakes (gr. III) Aug. 8 at Ellis Park.

The one-mile Groupie Doll, named for the Kentucky-based champion female sprinter of 2013, was formerly named the Gardenia Stakes. The marquee race of the summer meet at the Western Kentucky track drew a field of 12 with four on the also-eligible list.

Flashy American, trained by Ken McPeek, certainly isn't lacking in experience with 36 starts. The 6-year-old Flashy Bull   mare has a grade III stakes victory but has performed well in grade I and grade II stakes, raced respectably in the July 18 Del Cap given the way the race was run.

The Del Cap, at 1 1/4 miles, was won by Sheer Drama, who stalked front-running Frivolous for more than one mile before taking over and drawing away from that foe in the lane. Flashy American sat in third for about one mile and checked in fourth but didn't lose much ground on the top pair.

The class relief could assist Flashy American, who drew post 12 under Victor Lebron at 120 pounds, which all starters will carry in the Groupie Doll. The far outside post is tricky at Ellis Park in one-mile races, which start in a chute adjacent the clubhouse to create one-and-a-half-turn races.

Donamire Farm's Willow Hills, who has won three of four stars with a second-place finish, has shown good early speed at shorter distances and could be the one to catch in the Groupie Doll. The 4-year-old Distorted Humor   filly drew post 8 under Robby Albarado.

Willow Hills, trained by Ben Colebrook, finished a close second to Fioretti in the June 15 Roxelana Stakes at Churchill Downs. That event was at six furlongs; in April Willow Hills was an impressive winner of an allowance event at Keeneland at the distance of about seven furlongs, which is not far from going one mile.