Race Info
Track: Ellis Park (Henderson, KY)
Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025
Post Time: 3:12 PM CT (Race 8)
Distance: 5½ furlongs (Turf)
Purse: $150,000
Eligibility: 3-Year-Old Fillies
Full Field & Analysis
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Sire | Notable |
| 1 | Hold Your Breath | Kendrick Carmouche | John C. Servis | McKinzie | 2 wins from 3 starts; sharp early speed |
| 2 | Mezcalifornia | Irving Moncada | James E. Baker | Coal Front | 3-time winner; versatile on dirt and turf |
| 3 | Anakarina | Julien Leparoux | Dallas Stewart | Vekoma | Lightly raced; upset potential |
| 4 | Pondering | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan P. Walsh | Hard Spun | Improving form; top jock aboard |
| 5 | Lovely Emma | Rafael Bejarano | Peter Eurton | Twirling Candy | Stakes-placed; strong late kick |
| 6 | Rich City Girl | Jareth Loveberry | Larry Rivelli | City of Light | 3-for-4 lifetime; sharp recent win |
| 7 | Vodka With a Twist | Jaime Torres | Philip D’Amato | Thousand Words | Consistent; 6 top-3 finishes in 7 starts |
| 8 | Kimchi Cat | James Graham | Tom Amoss | Twirling Candy | Speedy but inconsistent |
| 9 | Brindi (IRE) | Sofia Vives | Kelsey Danner | No Nay Never | Irish-bred; 4 wins from 6 starts |
| 10 | Mighty Eriu (IRE) | Luan Machado | Brendan P. Walsh | Inns of Court (IRE) | Euro-style closer; improving |
| 11 | Grade A | Reylu Gutierrez | Jeremiah O’Dwyer | Army Mule | Longshot with upside |
| 12 | Mae Town | Florent Geroux | Brian A. Lynch | Mo Town | 2-race win streak; sharp form |
| 13 (AE) | Luna Louska | Rafael Bejarano | Gustavo Delgado | Complexity | 3 straight wins; needs scratch to draw in |
Top Contenders to Watch
Rich City Girl
Trainer: Larry Rivelli
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
Pedigree: City of Light × Hassler (IRE)
Why She’s Dangerous: Dominant 3-length win last out; tactical speed and turf pedigree make her a major threat.
Brindi (IRE)
Trainer: Kelsey Danner
Jockey: Sofia Vives
Pedigree: No Nay Never × Salamah (IRE)
Why She’s Dangerous: Irish-bred filly with 4 wins in 6 starts; proven turf sprinter with a strong turn of foot.
Mae Town
Trainer: Brian A. Lynch
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Pedigree: Mo Town × Latest Thinking
Why She’s Dangerous: Peaking at the right time with back-to-back wins; Geroux is lethal on turf.
Pedigree Highlights
McKinzie, sire of Hold Your Breath, is a Grade 1-winning son of Street Sense, known for producing precocious speedsters.
No Nay Never, sire of Brindi, is a top turf influence in Europe, especially over sprint distances.
City of Light, sire of Rich City Girl, is emerging as a versatile sire with turf and dirt success.
Twirling Candy, sire of Lovely Emma and Kimchi Cat, is a proven source of turf brilliance.
Trainer & Jockey Insights
Brendan Walsh (trainer of Pondering and Mighty Eriu) is known for turf success and has a strong Ellis Park record.
Philip D’Amato (Vodka With a Twist) is a turf sprint specialist, especially with fillies.
Tyler Gaffalione and Florent Geroux are two of the most reliable turf riders in the country.
Sofia Vives, a rising star, has shown poise in stakes company and gets a live mount in Brindi.
This race is loaded with speed and international flair. Expect a hot early pace, setting up for a closer like Brindi (IRE) or Mae Town. However, Rich City Girl has the tactical versatility to sit just off the leaders and pounce late.
Top 3 Picks:
Rich City Girl
Brindi (IRE)
Mae Town
Longshot to Watch: Pondering (12/1) – sneaky good form and top rider
