Large fields for 4 turf stakes

Easily the best day of racing so far at the Ellis Park summer meet will take place Sunday, when four $100,000 turf races – all with big fields expected – are held as previews for rich stakes next month at Kentucky Downs.

Entries for the Sunday previews were to be drawn Thursday at the western Kentucky track. All four races are completely funded from the $2.9 million granted earlier this year to the Ellis purse account by Kentucky Downs, and $25,000 from each purse is restricted to horses registered with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Here’s an early look: ◗ Preview Turf Cup: Rated R Superstar, winner of the Ben Ali in April, will switch to turf in a 1 1/4-mile race for which 32 horses were nominated.

◗ Preview Tourist Mile: Mr. Misunderstood, winner of the Grade 2 Wise Dan in June, is the big name in a race also expected to get Parlor and Flatlined from a nominations list of 40.

◗ Preview Ladies Turf: Lovely Bernadette, a multiple graded stakes winner, likely will be favored in this one-mile race over Bonnie Arch and Sailor’s Valentine.

◗ Preview Turf Sprint: Will Call, a graded stakes winner for the Klein family, returned early this week from Saratoga and will be rematched with Angaston in this 5 1/2-furlong race.

The previews serve as stepping-stones to Kentucky Downs stakes that will be run Sept. 1 and Sept. 8.

Two allowance races Friday

Back-to-back allowances (races 6 and 7) for older horses will anchor an eight-race Friday card at Ellis.

The Friday program will coincide with a special remote presentation (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central) of the popular Fast Break Friday radio show, hosted by Bob Valvano and Mike Pratt of ESPN 680 in Louisville. The hosts will be on hand to raise funds for cancer research through a silent auction and a raffle of memorabilia and experiences.

A nine-race Saturday card also will be highlighted by two allowances. First post daily at Ellis is 12:50 p.m.

Sisterson getting into action

Jack Sisterson, the longtime Doug O’Neill assistant who recently began training exclusively for Calumet Farm while based at Keeneland, was scheduled to have three starters this week, including two Saturday at Ellis.

To date, Sisterson, a 33-yearold graduate of the University of Louisville equine school, has had just one starter, an unplaced maiden on July 19 at Belterra Park.

◗ Into Friday, and with half of the 30 summer programs at Ellis complete, apprentice rider Edgar Morales continues to lead the jockey standings with 17 wins, while Brad Cox leads all trainers with 10 wins.