Trouble treble: Foley running 3 foals out of Donamire mare at Ellisthis weekend
Ellis Park media notes by Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media/Cady Coulardot photo above of Troubleshooting winning last year’s G1 Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs after prepping at Ellis Park)
On KyHBPA Youtube: Greg Foley interview
Watch Troubleshooting, Trouble Calling and Big Trouble train at Churchcill Downs
HENDERSON, Ky. (Wednesday, July 29, 2026) – Donamire Farm and trainer Greg Foley will bring a unique family affair to Ellis Park Racing & Gaming’s Summer Showcase with three siblings out of the mare Into Trouble entered across the two-day event.
Their weekend contingent is led by Grade I winner Troubleshooting, the 5-2 second choice on the morning line for Sunday’s $250,000 Tri-State Turf Sprint (Listed). Big Trouble is listed at 9-2 in Saturday’s $250,000 Hummingbird Stakes presented by Sterling Industrial (Listed), while Trouble Calling is the 7-5 second choice in an allowance earlier on the card.
“We’re set up for a pretty good weekend,” Foley said. “I think all three of those horses are entered in live spots, and hopefully they can run to it.”
Troubleshooting earned the biggest victory of his career last summer in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (GI) at Kentucky Downs before adding the Bryan Station Stakes (GIII) in October at Keeneland. The 4-year-old began his season with a runner-up finish in a Keeneland allowance contest before finishing third in the Mighty Beau Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs, defeated by Doncho and fellow Tri-State Turf Sprint rival Joe Shiesty.
“He’s a really nice horse, and his numbers seem to be getting better this year even though he hasn’t gotten a win yet,” Foley said. “We know he likes Kentucky Downs, and he’s in a live spot Sunday to try to get us back there again this year.”
Troubleshooting will break from post No. 11 under jockey Tyler Gaffalione in the 5 ½-furlong Tri-State Turf Sprint, carded as Race 8 at 3:12 p.m. CT.
On Saturday, Big Trouble will return on two weeks’ rest following her victory in the Clarksville Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The consistent 5-year-old mare has finished in the top three in 16 of 22 starts while earning $472,623.
“It’s a quick turnaround, but she came out of that race in great shape,” Foley said. “The timing worked, and with her doing as well as she is, we felt this was a good opportunity to take another shot.”
Big Trouble will break from the rail under jockey Francisco Arrieta in the 5 ½-furlong Hummingbird, the finale on Saturday’s 10-race program at 4:12 p.m.
Trouble Calling will compete earlier Saturday in an allowance contest that also drew Two Seven O. The duo met July 4 in the Dade Park Dash at Ellis Park, where Trouble Calling finished second behind Two Seven O.
All three runners were bred by Donamire Farm and are out of Into Trouble, who won three of 16 starts while racing for the Ball family’s operation and trainer Ben Colebrook. Her success has continued as a broodmare with the stakes-winning trio, and another of her offspring recently joined Foley’s stable: an unraced 2-year-old filly by Nashville.
“We got her in a few weeks ago,” Foley said Wednesday morning while watching the filly train at Churchill Downs. “She’s a good-looking filly, just like her siblings. She’s had a couple of easy three-eighths works so far but is doing things the right way at this stage. We’re really grateful for the partnership with the Ball family and Donamire for sending us some really nice horses.”
Ellis Park’s Summer Showcase features seven stakes worth a combined $1.75 million Saturday and Sunday. The racing week begins Friday, with daily first post at 11:50 a.m.
SUMMER SHOWCASE NEWS AND NOTES – Trainer Brian Knippenberg reported Mercante likely will compete in Sunday’s $300,000 Green River Island Stakes presented by Sterling Industrial (Listed) at Ellis Park instead of Saturday’s Arlington Million at Colonial Downs. … Ellis Park will take fans through the decades during Summer Showcase weekend with a ’70s theme Friday, ’80s theme Saturday and ’90s theme Sunday. Friday’s card features three carryovers: $293,215 in the $1 Jackpot 8, $16,657 in the 20-cent Dade Park 6 Jackpot and $1,193 in the $1 Super Hi-5. Following Saturday’s last race, the Jimmy Church Band will perform a free concert on the concourse. Sunday, fans can enjoy Dollar Days presented by the Kentucky HBPA, featuring $1 beer, hot dogs, ice cream and popcorn. … For the latest information about racing and gaming from Ellis Park, visitwww.ellisparkowensborogaming.com.
