Ellis Park presents a full Monday card on August 18, 2025, featuring competitive racing across multiple distances and surfaces. The track is hosting both dirt and turf racing with several notable juvenile races highlighted in the day’s program. Current track conditions show the dirt surface rated as fast and the turf course rated as firm, providing optimal racing conditions for the day’s competition.
The racing program includes maiden special weight contests and stakes-level competition, with particular attention on two-year-old fillies competing in $100,000 events scheduled for the afternoon. These races feature horses sourced from prominent sales, including purchases from the OBS April and Fasig-Tipton May sales.
Weather Forecast and Track Conditions
Monday’s weather forecast calls for morning clouds with temperatures reaching a high of 96°F and a low of 75°F. The day begins with a 56% chance of precipitation and approximately 0.02 inches of expected rainfall. Humidity levels are anticipated at 48% with light winds at 4 mph. The feels-like temperature is expected to reach 104°F during peak afternoon hours.
Current track conditions are reported as fast for the dirt surface and firm for the turf course. These conditions are considered optimal for racing, though the morning moisture possibility could affect the racing surface if precipitation occurs before or during the early races.
Race-by-Race Analysis
Race 6 at Ellis Park features a competitive $100,000 maiden special weight contest for two-year-old fillies competing at one mile on the turf course. The race has attracted a field of nine runners. The purse distribution awards $63,000 to the winner, $20,000 for second place, $10,000 for third, and $7,000 for fourth.
Field Analysis
The morning line establishes Rain Gold as the 3/1 favorite, followed by Rose To Riches at 7/2 and Rumbar at 9/2. This represents a competitive betting spread with several fillies receiving significant consideration from the oddsmaker.
Rain Gold, sired by More Than Ready, enters as the betting favorite and brings proven turf breeding to this maiden contest. The More Than Ready sire line has consistently produced successful turf runners, particularly in juvenile races.
Rose To Riches represents Quality Road and is described as “a costly purchase at the sales” who “has shown up well in recent workouts and she could be primed to strike first time out”. The analysis suggests this filly has been working impressively and could be ready to debut successfully. Quality Road’s progeny have shown consistent ability on turf surfaces.
Rumbar, a daughter of Divisidero, carries the riding services of Tyler Gaffalione and training of Ben Colebrook. At 9/2 on the morning line, she represents the third choice in early wagering.
Stunning Sapphire previously ran at Prairie Meadows, finishing sixth of seven runners in a stakes race over five furlongs. Despite the unplaced effort, the filly represents significant investment as a $230,000 purchase from the OBS April sale. The Win Win Win filly is listed at 6/1 on the morning line.
Bistineau Beauty has local experience, having competed at Ellis Park where she finished sixth of ten in a maiden race over five furlongs. The El Deal filly faces the challenge of stepping up significantly in distance from five furlongs to one mile.
Soundsmischievous brings Churchill Downs experience, having finished eighth of fifteen in a maiden event over five furlongs. The Audible filly also faces the distance stretch question moving to a mile.
Strada Del Sogno shows the most encouraging recent form among experienced runners, having finished third of eleven in a fillies stakes at Gulfstream Park over five furlongs. Though beaten by nine lengths, the effort represents competitive stakes company experience.
The field includes several first-time starters who merit attention based on breeding and connections:
Causeways Joy, sired by Kitten’s Joy, brings excellent turf breeding credentials with Vincent Cheminaud aboard. Kitten’s Joy has established himself as one of North America’s premier turf sires, particularly effective with juveniles on grass courses.
Maverick Queen represents Dialed In and is mentioned among the contenders in the race analysis at 5/1 morning line odds.
Training and Jockey Considerations
Tyler Gaffalione rides Rumbar for trainer Ben Colebrook, representing an experienced combination. Vincent Cheminaud partners with Causeways Joy, bringing his turf riding expertise to the Kitten’s Joy filly.
Distance and Surface Analysis
The one-mile turf distance presents a significant test for two-year-old fillies, particularly those stepping up from shorter sprint distances. The firm turf course conditions favor horses with stamina and tactical speed rather than pure early pace.
Several runners with five-furlong experience face questions about their ability to handle the additional ground. First-time starters with stamina-oriented breeding may hold advantages in this scenario.
Wagering Perspective
The competitive nature of the field, combined with several first-time starters from quality bloodlines, creates potential value opportunities. Rose To Riches appears well-regarded based on workout reports and represents a logical win candidate despite the 7/2 odds.
Rain Gold’s favoritism reflects solid credentials, though the 3/1 price leaves limited value for win wagering. The filly may serve better in exotic wagering combinations.
The longer-priced fillies, particularly those making debuts with strong breeding credentials like Causeways Joy, offer potential exotic wagering value if they can fire first time out.
This race presents a classic maiden special weight scenario where first-time starters with quality breeding and training can compete effectively against experienced runners seeking their first victory.
Race 9 presents another $100,000 maiden special weight contest for two-year-old fillies at one mile on turf, scheduled for 4:42 p.m. ET. The field includes Justa Rebel, a Justify filly acquired for $180,000 at the Fasig-Tipton May sale.
Race 7 has experienced scratches, with Lucky Louisa withdrawn for trainer-related reasons. The current field adjustments reflect typical race day changes as connections make final decisions based on track conditions and competition levels.
Previous Day Highlights
Ellis Park conducted racing on Sunday, August 17, 2025, with the final race being a maiden special weight contest over six furlongs on dirt worth $100,000. Race 9 was won by Semper Primus, competing in a field for three-year-olds and up on a fast dirt track.
