Closing Day Stakes Advances: Zozos Headlines $275,000 Hanshin Stakes Presented by the JRA (Listed)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Kevin Kerstein
Kentucky Racing Communications
Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Turfway Park
(610) 420-6971 (mobile)
(502) 635-4712 (office)
Kevin.Kerstein@KyDerby.com

HENDERSON, Ky. (Sunday, June 25, 2023) – Barry and Joni Butzow’s Zozos, the speedy winner of the $175,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes on Kentucky Derby Day, was entered to face eight rivals in Sunday’s 68th running of the $275,000 Hanshin Stakes presented by the JRA (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

    The one-mile Hanshin Stakes is one of five stakes contests on the Sunday program that will offer mandatory payouts in all exotic wagers. First post Sunday is 11:45 a.m. (all times Central) and the Hanshin will go as Race 9 of 10 at 3:55 p.m. Along with the Hanshin, the other stakes events on the card are the $225,000 Bashford Manor (Listed), the $225,000 Debutante (Listed), the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes and the $175,000 Maxfield Overnight Stakes.

    Zozos is an alumni of the 2022 Kentucky Derby where he finished 10th behind Rich Strike. Trained by Brad Cox, Zozos qualified for Kentucky Derby 148 with a runner-up finish to Epicenter in the Louisiana Derby (GII). As a 4-year-old, the son of Munnings only has three starts but sports two victories in a conditioned allowance event at Fair Grounds and the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes. Jockey Florent Geroux will retain the mount and break from the rail.

    Another accomplished horse entered in the Hanshin is David Miller, Eric Grindley and John Werner’s Three Technique. Campaigned by Jason Cook, Three Technique was victorious in the 2022 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs. The son of Mr Speaker finished a long neck behind Cody’s Wish in last year’s Hanshin. In his most recent start, Three Technique bested six rivals in an allowance event at Churchill Downs. Regular rider Rafael Bejarano will be in the irons from post No. 8.

    Rigney Racing’s improving gelding Warrior Johny will attempt to nab his first stakes score in the Hanshin. Trained by Phil Bauer, Warrior Johny dominated a 7 ½-furlong allowance contest in his last start at Churchill Downs. Junior Alvarado will retain the mount and break from post 3.

    Here is the complete field for the Hanshin Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Zozos (Geroux, Cox)
2. Strava (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart)
3. Warrior Johny (Alvarado, Bauer)
4. Tartufo (Gabriel Saez, Carlo Vaccarezza)
5. War Campaign (Corey Lanerie, Phil Sims)
6. Seize the Night (Cristian Torres, Wayne Lukas)
7. Collaborate (Luis Saez, Mike Maker)
8. Three Technique (Bejarano, Cook)
9. Santin (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)

    Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Ellis Park on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated. Featured on the Ellis Park simulcast signal on Twin Spires are expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Scott Shapiro and Kaitlin Free. 

    FanDuel will offer live on-site coverage Friday-Sunday at Ellis Park. Fans can also watch the action on the FanDuel+ app on smart devices. 

    Sunday will close out the portion of the Ellis Park meet where the dates were transferred from Churchill Downs. The traditional Ellis meeting will begin Friday, July 7. For more information about racing and gaming from Ellis Park, visit www.ellisparkracing.com.

DOMINATE 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY V V’S DREAM ATTEMPTS FIRST STAKES TRY IN $225,000 DEBUTANTE – MJM Racing’s eye-catching 2-year-old filly V V’s Dream will be in search of her first stakes victory when she squares off against five rivals in Sunday’s 122nd running of the $225,000 Debutante (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

    The six-furlong Debutante Stakes is one of five stakes contests on the Sunday card from Ellis Park. First post is 11:45 a.m. (all times Central) and the Debutante will go as Race 3 of 10 with a post time of 12:43 p.m. The supporting stakes on the card are the $275,000 Hanshin presented by the JRA (Listed), the $225,000 Bashford Manor, the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes and the $175,000 Maxfield Overnight Stakes.

    Trained by three-time Debutante Stakes winner Kenny McPeek, V V’s Dream impressively rallied from six lengths off the early pace in her debut to defeat seven fillies by 6 ¼ lengths. The gray daughter of Mitole stopped the clock on :57.91 for five furlongs and earned a 93 Brisnet Speed Rating. McPeek previously won the Debutante with Behave Virginia (2021), Restless Rider (2018) and Sunny Skies (2017). V V’s dream will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. from post No. 3.

    Another intriguing prospect that entered the Debutante is Heider Family Stables’ Hibernacle. Now under the care of Brendan Walsh, Hibernacle galloped to a 7 ½-length victory on debut at Keeneland for former owner/trainer Wesley Ward. Hibernacle will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from the rail. 
    
    The Debutante Stakes began in 1895 and has produced seven Champion 2-year-old Fillies including last year’s winner Wonder Wheel. The others are: Chilukki (1999), Silverbulletday (1998), Golden Attraction (1995), Bewitch (1947), Alcibiades (1929) and Anita Peabody (1927).

    Here is the field for the 2023 Debutante Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Hibernacle (Gaffalione, Walsh)
2. George’s Honey (Rey Gutierrez, Mark Casse)
3. V V’s Dream (Hernandez, McPeek)
4. Brightwork (Luis Saez, John Ortiz)
5. City Ghost (James Graham, Henry Johnson Jr.)
6. Easy Red (Cristian Torres, Doug O’Neill)

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Ellis Park on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated. Featured on the Ellis Park simulcast signal on Twin Spires are expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Scott Shapiro and Kaitlin Free. 

    FanDuel will offer live on-site coverage Friday-Sunday at Ellis Park. Fans can also watch the action on the FanDuel+ app on smart devices. 

    For more information about racing and gaming from Ellis Park, visit www.ellisparkracing.com.

GUTSY DEBUT WINNER WILSON Q TOPS SEVEN 2-YEAR-OLDS ENTERED IN COMPETTIVE BASHFORD MANOR – The Del Mar Group’s Wilson Q will attempt to notch his second-lifetime victory in as many starts when he faces five 2-year-old rivals that entered Sunday’s 122nd running of the $225,000 Bashford Manor (Listed) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

    The six-furlong Bashford Manor was tabbed as Race 5 of 10 with a post time of 1:45 p.m. (all times Central) First post is 11:45 a.m. The stellar Sunday program features five stakes contests and a mandatory payout in all exotic wagers. Along with the Bashford Manor, the card is co-headlined by the $225,000 Hanshin Stakes presented by the JRA (Listed), the $225,000 Debutante (Listed), the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes and the $175,000 Maxfield Overnight Stakes.

    The young Wilson Q broke sharply in his May 18 debut at Churchill Downs and gamely held off Gold Sweep by a neck. Gold Sweep subsequently returned to romp by nine lengths on June 11 at Belmont Park. Wilson Q is a son of Constitution out of the Speightstown mare Margate Gardens. The Doug O’Neill trainee is based at Keeneland and sports a sharp 1:00.20 five-furlong move from the gate in his most recent work prior to the Bashford Manor. Jockey Rey Gutierrez will be in the saddle from post No. 1.

Here’s the field for the Bashford Manor in order of post positions (with jockey and trainer):

1. Wilson Q (Gutierrez, O’Neill)
2. Unified Point (Junior Alvarado, John Ortiz)
3. Go Otto Go (Florent Geroux, Steve Asmussen)
4. Call Me Andy (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
5. The Wine Steward (Luis Saez, Mike Maker)
6. Lou’s Legacy (Yarmarie Correa, Hugo Andrade)
7. Magical Mark (Cristian Torres, Karl Broberg)
  
    Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Ellis Park on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated. Featured on the Ellis Park simulcast signal on Twin Spires are expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Scott Shapiro and Kaitlin Free. 

    FanDuel will offer live on-site coverage Friday-Sunday at Ellis Park. Fans can also watch the action on the FanDuel+ app on smart devices. 

    For more information about racing and gaming from Ellis Park, visit www.ellisparkracing.com.

RECENT CHICK LANG STAKES WINNER RYVIT TOPS FULL FIELD OF 12 3-YEAR-OLDS IN MAXFIELD OVERNIGHT STAKES – Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Ryvit, the recent winner of the Chick Lang Stakes (Grade III) at Pimlico, tops a solid field of 12 3-year-olds that entered Sunday’s second running of the $175,000 Maxfield Overnight Stakes at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

    Run at seven furlongs, the Maxfield Overnight Stakes was carded as Race 8 of 10 with a post time of 3:22 p.m. (all times Central). First post on the stakes-laden program is 11:45 a.m. Along with the Maxfield Overnight Stakes, the card features the $275,000 Hanshin Stakes presented by the JRA (Listed), the $225,000 Bashford Manor (Listed), the $225,000 Debutante (Listed) and the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes.

    Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Ryvit has found the winner’s circle in his last four tries. Asmussen’s son Keith was aboard for three of the last four victories but was forced to take off the colt in the Chick Lang after he broke his left index finger. In the six-furlong Chick Lang, Tyler Gaffalione picked up the mount and cruised to a front-running 1 ¾-length victory. Jockey Cristian Torres will have the call for the first time on Ryvit and break from the rail.

    The Maxfield Overnight Stakes features several intriguing horses including WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s 10 ¼-length maiden winner Mullikin, AMO Racing USA’s undefeated New York Thunder, Amerman Racing Stables’ recent back-to-back allowance winner Tumbarumba and Michele and Cliff Love’s Saratoga Special (GII) winner Damon’s Mound.

    Here is the complete field for the Maxfield Overnight Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
    
1. Ryvit (Torres, Asmussen)
2. New York Thunder (Ricardo Santana Jr., Jorge Delgado)
3. Determinedly (Francisco Arrieta, Mark Casse)
4. Navy Man (Junior Alvarado, Michael McCarthy)
5. Damon’s Mound (Gabriel Saez, Michelle Lovell)
6. Mullikin (Tyler Gaffalione, Rodolphe Brisset)
7. Gunflash (Rey Gutierrez, Karl Broberg)
8. Frosted Departure (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)
9. Top Recruit (Gerardo Corrales, Mike Maker)
10. Tumbarumba (Luis Saez, Brian Lynch)
11. Squire Creek (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox)

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Ellis Park on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated. Featured on the Ellis Park simulcast signal on Twin Spires are expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Scott Shapiro and Kaitlin Free. 

    FanDuel will offer live on-site coverage Friday-Sunday at Ellis Park. Fans can also watch the action on the FanDuel+ app on smart devices. 

    For more information about racing and gaming from Ellis Park, visit www.ellisparkracing.com.

GRADE III WINNER WHITE FROST TOPS $175,000 ANCHORAGE OVERNIGHT STAKES – Gainesway Stable’s ultra-consistent White Frost leads a field of eight turf specialists entered in the second running of the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming. 

    The one-mile turf contest will go as Race 7 of 10 with a post time of 2:50 p.m. (all times Central). The Anchorage Overnight Stakes is one of five stakes contests on the program alongside the $275,000 Hanshin Stakes presented by the JRA (Listed), the $225,000 Bashford Manor (Listed), the $225,000 Debutante (Listed) and the $175,000 Maxfield Overnight Stakes.

White Frost, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, has only finished outside the top 3 once in her nine-race career. The now 5-year-old mare by Candy Ride (ARG) was the heavy 3-5 favorite in the $225,000 Mint Julep Stakes (Grade III) but could not hold off Henrietta Topham in the late stages of the 1 1/16-mile event. As a 3-year-old, White Frost won the Sweetest Chant Stakes (GIII) at Gulfstream Park. Junior Alvarado, who’s been aboard White Frost for seven of her nine starts, will have the call from post No. 6. 

J and J Stables and Nicholas Vaccarezza’s Sweet Dani Girl will be in search of her fourth stakes victory in the Anchorage Overnight Stakes. Trained by Carlo Vaccarezza, Sweet Dani Girl started her career off with a blitz by winning her debut at 45-1 and tallying a three-quarter length victory in the Myrtlewood Stakes. Sweet Dani Girl went to the sidelines following the 2022 Eight Belles Stakes (GII) but returned as a 4-year-old to Gulfstream Park where she defeated seven rivals in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf. Two starts later, Sweet Dani Girl shipped to Tampa Bay Downs where she cruised to a four-length victory in the Distaff Turf Stakes. Most recently, Sweet Dani Girl set the early fractions in the Mint Julep Stakes but could not hold off Henrietta Topham and White Frost. Jockey Cristian Torres will have the mount from the rail.

Here is the complete field for the Anchorage Overnight Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
    
1. Sweet Dani Girl (Torres, Vaccarezza)
2. Princess Theorem (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
3. Fast as Flight (Luis Saez, Bryan Lynch)
4. Kate’s Kingdom (Jack Gilligan, Will Walden)
5. Contemporary Art (Florent Geroux, Jonathan Thomas)
6. White Frost (Alvarado, Mott) 
7. Napa Candy (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver)
8. Lady Hideaway (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes)

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Ellis Park on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated. Featured on the Ellis Park simulcast signal on Twin Spires are expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Scott Shapiro and Kaitlin Free. 

    FanDuel will offer live on-site coverage Friday-Sunday at Ellis Park. Fans can also watch the action on the FanDuel+ app on smart devices. 

    For more information about racing and gaming from Ellis Park, visit www.ellisparkracing.com.

ABOUT ELLIS PARK RACING & GAMING
Ellis Park, Racking and Gaming (“Ellis Park”) located north of the Ohio River and just south of Evansville, Indiana, has been the home of summer Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky for over 100 years. Ellis Park also features a gaming entertainment venue with approximately 300 historical racing machines.