Kenny McPeek holds a strong hand Sunday with Ten City in the Ellis Park Juvenile and Sunny Skies in the Ellis Park Debutante. The runners will seek another sweep of 2-year-old stakes after winning the Bashford Manor (G3) and Debutante on the June 30 program at Churchill Downs.
The $75,000 races will be contested at 7-furlongs.
Ten City, a Kentucky-bred son of Run Away and Hide who cost only $12,000 at auction, possesses a 2-for-2 record, opening his career with a seven-length maiden romp at Keeneland and logging a 1 ½-length decision in the Bashford Manor. The dark bay colt was flattered when Bashford Manor runner-up Copper Bullet came back to dominate the recent Saratoga Special (G2) and Ten City shows a fast series of works at Keeneland in preparation for the Ellis Park Juvenile.
Jack Gilligan takes over the mount from Robby Albarado, who will stick with a debut maiden winner.
Dak Attack was bet down to 1-2 and did not disappoint when making his lone appearance at Churchill Downs June 15, scoring by a 1 ¼-length margin over Sporting Chance, who made the winner look good by returning with a convincing maiden tally at Saratoga. A $625,000 yearling, Dak Attack is trained by Dale Romans and Ghostzapper colt will break from the far outside post with Albarado in a 12-horse field.
Last-out Ellis maiden winners Big Iron, Make Noise and Private Vigilante are other runners of interest.
Sunny Skies heads a cast of 13, including an also-eligible, in the filly counterpart and the chestnut is also 2-for-2, leading wire-to-wire in a nine-length maiden thrashing at Keeneland and in a 1 ¼-length Debutante victory. She hails from the first crop of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and retains the services of Albarado.
Upset Brewing finished second in her first two outings, including the Debutante in which she was severely interfered with at the start, and earned her first win in eye-catching fashion last time, rolling to a 9 ¾-length maiden special weight win at Ellis on July 29. She drew post 12 for Buff Bradley and Corey Lanerie rides.
Laudation will look to improve upon an unplaced effort in the July 21 Schuylerville (G3) at Saratoga and Gabriel Saez will guide the Steve Asmussen trainee. Flight Queen invades for Bret Calhoun off a 6 ½-length maiden win at Lone Star Park; On the Hop exits a runner-up effort in an off-the-turf allowance/optional claimer at Saratoga; and Kelly’s Humor will step up to face winners following a convincing wire-to-wire score in an off-the-turf maiden at Ellis.
