Big Truzz rolls in Ellis Park Derby as Gaffalione wins six!
Ellis Park stakes recaps by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media photos of Big Truzz winning the Ellis Park Derby — one of six races and four stakes won by Tyler Gaffalione)
(We’ll be updating later with more Coady photos from the other stakes and also interviews with the winners, which will be posted on KY HBPA Youtube.)
HENDERSON, Ky. (Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025) – Flying Dutchmen’s Big Truzz delivered a powerhouse performance in Sunday’s $300,000 Ellis Park Derby presented by Hallway Feeds (Listed), drawing off to win by a commanding seven lengths for the fifth of six victories on the day by jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
Trained by Brian Lynch, Big Truzz completed the one-mile race in 1:34.73, just .40 seconds off the track record set in 2022 by Injunction. The victory was Gaffalione’s fifth on the card. He would go on to win his sixth race on the card in Race 10 aboard Sturgeon Moon in the $200,000 Audubon Oaks.
It was a good start for the field of six 3-year-olds with Big Boat taking advantage out of the “Thompson Chute” while trying to slow the tempo after a quarter-mile in :23.58. Big Truzz tracked in second while Luan Machado put 6-5 favorite Admiral Dennis outside Sinister Smilein third. After a half-mile in :46.73, Big Truzz ranged up to Big Boat’s outside while Admiral Dennis launched a three-wide bid. Big Truzz seized command at the top of the stretch and quickly opened up, cruising to his second-career victory.
“He jumped so well out of the gate,” Gaffalione said. “He felt like a winner the entire way. He leveled off well and finished up well late. It was impressive. I’m just happy to get here to get the support from trainers like Brian (Lynch) to let me ride good horses like this.”
“I’ve been waiting through that breakthrough race,” Lynch said. I might’ve wheeled him back too quickly in the Indiana Derby. He was able to stalk nicely and had a lot of horse left. It was nice to see him draw off like that in the end. … As thrilled with I was with Big Truzz, I was equally happy with the effort of (Jimmy’s Dailys) to finish second off the layoff.”
Big Truzz, the 2-1 third choice in the race, returned $6.24. He’s named for University of Louisville great and Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson’s nickname.
Jimmy’s Dailys completed the exacta, with Admiral Dennis rounding out the trifecta. They were followed by Big Boat, Master Controller and Sinister Smile.
A 3-year-old son of Justify out of the Curlin mare Saralin, Big Truzz was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt & Kaleen Shah Inc.
The win was his second from five starts and boosted his earnings to $333,555.
Live racing resumes Monday at Ellis Park with a first post of 11:50 a.m. CT.
IMPEL DIGS IN LATE, REPELS BID OF REGALED TO WIN GROUPIE DOLL STAKES– Juddmonte’s homebred Impel surged to the front in mid-stretch and turned back a late bid from Regaled to win Sunday’s $200,000 Groupie Doll Stakes (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Impel completed the one-mile race in 1:37.76 over a fast track.
In the early stages of the Groupie Doll, Harbor Springs took command of the field while setting a pokey quarter-mile in :25.49. Impel was positioned three-wide in the early stages whileTaxed was positioned off the hip of Harbor Springs. As the field galloped up the backside, the positions remained relatively unchanged following a half-mile in :50.25. Turning for home, Taxed briefly took the lead but was quickly joined by Impel on the outside as she kicked clear to the wire. In deep stretch, Impel had to hold off a late charge of Regaled while finishing a head in front at the wire.
“I was able to work out a good trip tracking the leaders,” Geroux said. “We were a little closer than usual with the slower pace but she had plenty left to dig in late. I think she really does well at this one-mile distance.”
Alpine Princess, the 4-5 favorite, finished third. She was followed by Taxed, Everland,Pigalle and Harbor Springs.
Impel returned $12.62 to win.
A 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road out of the Flatter mare Your Love, she was bred in Kentucky by her owner. The victory improved her record to 10-4-2-2 and increased her career earnings to $556,116.
TUMBARUMBA GETS BY PRINCE OF POWER LATE TO WIN R.A. ‘COWBOY’ JONES – Wathnan Racing’s Tumbarumba dug in gamely in deep stretch to outfinish Prince of Power and capture the fourth running of the $200,000 R.A. “Cowboy” Jones Stakes at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.
Trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Tumbarumba covered the mile in 1:35.38 over a fast track.
In the early stages of the race, fleet-footed Frosted Departure seized the early lead tracked closely by Prince of Power and This Is Uscar. As the field hit the backstretch following a quarter-mile in :23.63, even-money favorite Tumbarumba was positioned a few lengths back in fourth but began his move on the far turn by tipping in the clear from his rail draw. After a half-mile in :46.05, Prince of Power ranged up outside the Frosted Departure as Tumbarumba was forced three-wide. Entering the stretch, Tumbarumba found his best strides down the center of the track whileThis Is Uscar squeezed through along the rail and Prince of Power battled between. In deep stretch, it turned into a two-horse battle between Tumbarumba and Prince of Power with Tumbarumba prevailing by a hard-faught neck.
“He’s always willing to fight,” Gaffalione said. “He is a fun horse to ride and I look forward to riding him every time. Everything played out like we needed. I got him out down the backside and let him come with his best run late.”
Tumbarumba returned his backers $4.24.
This Is Uscar held the third spot, followed by Frosted Departure and Three Technique.
A 5-year-old Louisiana-bred gelding by Oscar Performance out of the Street Sense mare Naive Enough, Tumbarumba improved his record to 23-6-7-4. The victory boosted his earnings to $853,740.
STURGEON MOON CAPS GAFFALIONE’S SIX-WIN DAY IN $200,000 AUDUBON OAKS – OXO Equine’s Sturgeon Moon made a strong, late rally to overtake Princess Proud in the stretch to win Sunday’s $200,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, giving jockey Tyler Gaffalione his sixth victory on the card.
Trained by Will Walden, Sturgeon Moon completed the seven furlongs in 1:23.08 over a fast track.
Longshot Viral Plane Lady took the early lead over 8-5 favorite Princess Proud, who tracked to her outside in second through an opening quarter in :22.37. Princess Proud advanced between runners on the far turn with Hollygrove three wide and the duo took the field into the stretch after a half-mile in :45.14. Princess Proud stayed to the inside in the lane but could not hold off the late rally of Sturgeon Moon, who swept past and drew clear to win by three lengths.
“I love Kentucky racing, it’s a blast to be here.” Gaffalione said. “I figured with her cutting back in distance she’d enjoy the seven-eighths. I just kept her motivated late but she ran a big effort.”
Princess Proud finished a half-length in front of Trusty Troutman. She was followed by Viral Plane Lady, Hollygrove, Run Camila Run and Ruby’s Ghost.
A daughter of Instagrand out of the Warrior’s Reward mare La Regia, Sturgeon Moon was bred in Kentucky by Phalaris, LLC. The victory improved her record to 6-3-1-1 and increased her career earnings to $253,005. She returned $6 for those who backed her at the windows.
COMPORT LIVES UP TO FAVORITISM IN ELLIS PARK JUVENILE – Joseph Sutton’s Comport delivered as the heavy 1-4 favorite with a determined stretch run to win Sunday’s 10thrunning of the $198,000 Ellis Park Juvenile at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.
Trained by Eddie Kenneally and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Comport completed the seven furlongs in 1:22.73 over a fast track.
Spice Runner was sent to the early lead with his stablemate Papa Ken securing a forward position along the rail. Down the backstretch, Comport advanced to second and ranged up alongside Spice Runner after an opening quarter in :22.88. Around the far turn, Comport drew even after a half-mile in :46.01, then gradually edged clear in the stretch to prevail by two lengths.
“He definitely gave me the impression he wants to go longer,” Gaffalione said. “He was so kind and did whatever I asked him. When I asked him to quicken down the lane he kept getting stronger.”
Spice Runner held second, with Papa Ken finishing third. Shake and Rattle was fourth, followed by Longstrider.
Comport returned $2.70
A 2-year-old son of Collected out of the Flatter mare Bartlett Narrows, Comport was bred in Kentucky by Ed Anthony.
The victory was his second from three starts and increased his earnings to $236,300 with the $122,000 winner’s share from the $198,000 purse.
CHOPSTICKS REMAINS PERFECT WITH ELLIS PARK DEBUTANTE SCORE – Selective LLC’s Chopsticks stayed unbeaten in two starts with a determined stretch run to capture Sunday’s eighth running of the $197,000 Ellis Park Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Chopsticks completed the seven furlongs in 1:23.68 over a fast track.
Breaking from the rail, Kingsolver was sent to the lead and dueled early with Boom Boom Bell through an opening quarter in :22.43. Up the backside, Boom Boom Bell edged clear of Kingsolver before Prowess and Chopsticks moved into contention around the far turn. After a half-mile in :45.27, Kingsolver tipped four wide at the quarter pole and battled with Chopsticks to her inside. Inside the final sixteenth, Chopsticks edged ahead and held sway to the wire for a one-length victory.
“It was a big effort today,” Cox said. “Anytime a horse starts two-for-two it is special. I’m very happy for the entire team to be able to get this stakes win and looking forward to her future. She has a great mind to her. Florent did a good job getting her into a good position. I think as the distances get longer, she’ll keep improving.”
Prowess rallied to finish third. She was followed by Red Beretta, Boom Boom Bell and Mescat.
Chopsticks earned $121,380 for her victory in the Ellis Park Debutante to boost her career earnings to $190,680. She returned $3.40 to those backing her through the windows.
A gray daughter of Essential Quality, Chopsticks is out of the More Than Ready mare Miss Southern Miss. She was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall.
