Ellis Park: Led by Plutarch, Baffert trio favored in three of Sunday’s six stakes
College Day this Sunday! $1K, iPad/AirPods, $150 Amazon gift card given out via drawing for each of nine races
Ellis Park media notes by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Benoit photo above of Plutarch winning Santa Anita’s G3 Robert B. Lewis)
HENDERSON, Ky. (Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026) – Final preparations are underway for Sunday’s Ellis Park Derby Day card as many of the afternoon’s leading contenders put the finishing touches on their preparations ahead of six stakes worth $1.5 million, highlighted by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert’s trio of morning-line favorites.
Baffert will saddle three morning-line favorites on the program: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Plutarch in the $400,000 Ellis Park Derby presented by Hallway Feeds (Listed), Edward Child’s Cash Call in the $200,000 Groupie Doll (Listed) and Zedan Racing Stables’ Salahudin in the $250,000 Ellis Park Juvenile presented by Claiborne Farm.
Plutarch, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief out of multiple Grade I winner and multimillionaire Stellar Wind, has been based at Churchill Downs since early July while preparing for his first start in six months. The colt galloped at approximately 7:45 a.m. ET Thursday with Chase Miller in the saddle under the watchful eye of assistant trainer Dan Ward. Jockey Florent Geroux, who will ride in the Ellis Park Derby, was also at Churchill Downs Thursday morning, working horses for the Baffert barn before watching Plutarch complete his routine.
“They sent him to us from California ready to go,” Ward said. “He’s been doing well since coming to Churchill. I think the mile configuration at Ellis fits him really well. He’s got a great pedigree, and I’ve been really impressed with how he’s training. We’re looking forward to Sunday.”
Geroux also liked what he saw from the colt during Thursday’s training session.
“He looked good this morning,” Geroux said. “He’s a classy horse that’s shown he can run well on different kinds of surfaces. It looks like he’s coming into the race in really good shape.”
One of Plutarch’s main rivals in the Ellis Park Derby, Corona de Oro, also enters the race in top form following his allowance victory last month. Owned by the partnership group of On Our Own Stable, Commonwealth Stable, U Racing Stables, Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing, Jim Nichols, Edwin Barker, Daniel Rivers, John Haines and trainer Dallas Stewart, the colt will get another test against stakes company on Sunday after finishing third in the Lexington (GIII), 11th in the Preakness (GI) and fifth in the Matt Winn (GIII).
“We have a lot of great partners involved with this horse and it was good to get that allowance win under his belt,” Stewart said. “He’s come out of the race in great shape and has continued training well. It’s great to be able to stay here in Kentucky and run in a race like the Ellis Park Derby.”
The field for the Ellis Park Derby from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):
- Corona de Oro (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 7-2)
- Seventies Music (Rafael Bejarano, Randy Morse, 15-1)
- Stop the Car (Ben Curtis, Brendan Walsh, 5-2)
- Igniter (Luis Saez, Rick Dutrow Jr., 3-1)
- Plutarch (Geroux, Baffert, 2-1)
- Spun D M C (Francisco Arrieta, Randy Morse, 8-1)
Sunday’s 10-race program begins at 11:50 a.m. CT. The Ellis Park Derby is scheduled as Race 7 at 2:42 p.m. CT. In addition to the Ellis Park Derby, the card features the Groupie Doll (Listed), Ellis Park Juvenile presented by Claiborne Farm, Ellis Park Debutante presented by Hausmann Outdoor Solutions, Audubon Oaks and R.A. “Cowboy” Jones Stakes.
KENTUCKY HBPA COLLEGE DAY RETURNS SUNDAY – Kentucky HBPA College Day returns to Ellis Park Racing & Gaming on Sunday, featuring prize drawings after each of the day’s nine races for full-time college students.
A total of 27 prizes will be awarded throughout the afternoon, including nine $1,000 cash prizes, nine iPad 11-inch and AirPods packages and nine $150 Amazon gift cards.
The Kentucky HBPA also will provide a $5 betting voucher to every qualified student age 18 or older who registers for the promotion. There are no age restrictions to win the prize drawings.
First post is 11:50 a.m. CT. Students may register throughout the afternoon and remain eligible for any remaining prize drawings.
Sunday also is Kentucky HBPA Dollar Day, featuring $1 hot dogs and popcorn, along with discounted draft beer for guests age 21 and older.
Students must present a valid college identification card or letter of admission, along with a driver’s license, to register. Eligible students include those enrolled or accepted for the fall semester at a two- or four-year college, graduate school, professional school, vocational or technical school, barber school or another post-high school program that qualifies for federal financial aid.
Students must register in person, be present to claim their prize and may only enter once. Prize winners will be announced after each race, with all prizes distributed following the ninth race.
“College Day at Ellis Park is one of our favorite opportunities each year to introduce the next generation to our industry,” said Kentucky HBPA Executive Director Alex Foley. “It’s important for us to showcase not only the excitement of racing but also the many career paths and lifelong connections this sport provides. We’re proud to welcome students to Ellis Park and give them a firsthand look at what makes our industry so special.”
Registration will take place in the grandstand tunnel.
Employees of Churchill Downs Inc., including Ellis Park, and their families are not eligible for the promotion.
