Stability arrives at Ellis Park

It wasn’t long ago that many Kentucky trainers, out of economic necessity, would take their stables out of state for July and August. The purse structure at Ellis Park wasn’t sufficient to make staying put feasible, so Saratoga or Delaware or Arlington became their summer homes.

But during the tenure of Ron Geary, who purchased Ellis from Churchill Downs Inc. in 2006, things have turned around. Virtually every major stable based in Kentucky from April through November will maintain a presence as Ellis begins its 30-day meet on Sunday, giving the Kentucky circuit a certain stability and continuity that had been lacking.

“This is the 12th year I’ve been here since we bought the track from Churchill Downs right after the tornado,” Geary said at a recent media briefing at Ellis in Henderson, Ky., referring to a tornado that ravaged the track on Nov. 6, 2005.

“It was a struggle whether they were going to want to keep it open, and we worked something out. I’m so glad we did. It’s not been the easiest turnaround I’ve been involved with, but when you look at our purse money – $230,000 a day compared with $135,000 when we took it over – we’ve made a lot of progress. It hasn’t gone as fast as any of us want it to, but I’m very pleased where we are.”

Obviously, revenues from the historical racing terminals that have proliferated at state tracks in recent years have made life easier for the track owners. Geary has worked closely with Corey Johnsen of Kentucky Downs and Marty Maline of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association on deals that primarily benefit Ellis, Kentucky Downs, and the state’s horsemen.

The $2.9 million that Kentucky Downs has contributed to Ellis purses this summer – “jaw-dropping” and “unparalleled,” as Maline described it – has been a huge factor in further strengthening the circuit beyond the major meets at Churchill and Keeneland. The Ellis meet runs through Sept. 3.

“It’s been a win-win for everybody,” said trainer Dale Romans, who will maintain a sizable portion of his stable at Churchill through the summer. “Ellis Park is on the way up.”

Baffert, Ramseys honored

Less than two months after winning the Kentucky Derby for the fifth time, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has been named to the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, it was announced this week by the Louisville Sports Commission.

Baffert became just the second trainer to sweep the Triple Crown twice when Justify won the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

Joining Baffert in a group of seven honorees are Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the Nicholasville, Ky., couple who are perennial leading owners and breeders in Kentucky.

Baffert and the Ramseys will be honored at the annual KAHOF dinner on Aug. 22 at the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville. Hall of Fame plaques are on display in the concourses of Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.

Troy Stakes next for Will Call

Owner Richard Klein said the $200,000 Troy Stakes, to be run Aug. 5 at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga turf, is the likely next start for Will Call, who was up in the final jump to win a $62,916 allowance Thursday over the Churchill turf.

Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Will Call nipped Angaston in his first appearance since he won the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on the May 4 Kentucky Oaks undercard. The 4-year-old homebred colt is trained by Brad Cox.

“That was a salty group we beat,” Klein said.

McCraken in another work

With the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker next on his schedule, McCraken was out for another serious breeze at Churchill, going five furlongs Tuesday in 1:01.20 for trainer Ian Wilkes.

The 4-year-old is scheduled to have a final pre-race breeze before being sent to Prairie Meadows in Iowa for the Cornhusker on Friday night.

McCraken, stretching out off a sixth-place finish in the June 9 Metropolitan Mile, figures to be a solid favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Cornhusker.