RHYME SCHEMES DAZZLES IN MAIDEN-BREAKING SCORE AT ELLIS PARK

HENDERSON, Ky. (Friday, June 16, 2023) – Pura Vida Investments’ Rhyme Schemes stamped himself as one of the top 2-year-olds in the country following his dazzling 9 ½-length romp in a maiden special weight contest Thursday at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Norm Casse and ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Rhyme Schemes completed the 5 ½-furlong distance in 1:02.82, just .51 seconds off the track record set by Spycraft in 2021. Rhyme Schemes’ victory earned a stout 93 Brisnet Speed Rating.

“We’ve gone about training our 2-year-olds a little bit differently this year than previous years,” Casse said. “This was Rhyme Schemes’ second start and we haven’t really cranked up any of our 2-year-olds going into their debut. We’ve been using their first start to build on their fitness. So, it was extremely impressive the way this horse won. We added blinkers for his second start and they seemed to help a lot as well.”

Rhyme Schemes was purchased at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $210,000 by Casse’s longtime client and bloodstock advisor Deuce Greathouse. Some of the top horses on Greathouse’s resume that he picked out includes Tepin, Shedaresthedevil and Southlawn.

Casse stated the July 2, $225,000 Bashford Manor (Listed) could be an option for Rhyme Schemes’ next start.

ELLIS PARK ALTERS FIRST POST TO 11:45 A.M. (CDT) BEGINNING THURSDAY – Officials from Ellis Park Racing & Gaming have announced the new daily first post will be 11:45 a.m. (all times Central) beginning with Thursday’s nine-race card.

Racing Friday-Sunday will remain a 12:50 p.m. first post.

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

BETTORS REWARDED WITH BIG PRICES THURSDAY AT ELLIS PARK – It was “bombs away” on the Thursday program at Ells Park where no favorites won any of the 10 races and the average $2 win mutuel was $17.50.

There were no winning tickets in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick 6 which resulted in a $84,107 carryover to racing Friday. However, there was one winning ticket in the Late Pick 5 which returned a whopping $84,783.28. The Late Pick 4 paid a sizable $6,883.43.

The top priced horse Thursday was Playlist, who drew off by 5 ¼ lengths at odds of 19-1 in a first-level allowance contest on the turf in Race 6.

Fans can watch and wager on the action from Ellis Park on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Inc. Expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Scott Shapiro and Kaitlin Free will offer their insights and suggested wagers throughout the meet on the simulcast feed and on Twitter (@EllisParkRacing).

‘INSIDE CHURCHILL DOWNS’ RETURNS FRIDAY WITH SPECIAL GUEST TOM AMOSS – “Inside Churchill Downs” will return to the airwaves Friday from 5-6 p.m. (CDT) and feature an interview with trainer Tom Amoss.

Amoss, who was on the Fox Sports telecast for the Belmont Stakes (GI), will offer his insights on the Triple Crown season as well as look ahead to Hoosier Philly’s start in Saturday’s $175,000 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes.

Listeners can catch the live interview on Louisville’s ESPN 680/105.7 or online at www.espnlouisville.com.

AROUND THE PEA PATCH – Nominations will close Saturday for all 11 stakes events scheduled to run July 1-2 at Ellis Park. Among those races is the $1 million Stephen Foster (Grade I), the centerpiece of six stakes contests July 1. Probable entrants for the 11 stakes events will be announced Thursday. … Jockeys Florent Geroux and Luis Saez are riding at Monmouth Park Saturday but are scheduled to return to Ellis Park Sunday. … Racing from Ellis Park will be broadcast throughout the meet on FanDuel TV and the FanDuel TV+ app. … For more information about racing from Ellis Park and to purchase premium tickets, 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.