Encino headlines trio of turf Stakes contenders at Ellis Park

Encino bids for back-to-back Stakes wins on turf as he features among a trio of Godolphin Stakes runners on day one of the Kentucky Downs Preview meeting at Ellis Park, USA, on Saturday, 2 August.

The Nyquist colt lines up in the KY Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile for Brad Cox following a sparkling turf debut in the Jonathan B Schuster Memorial Stakes in July, when he lowered the extended-mile course record at Indiana Grand.

Encino won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Tapeta and the G3 Lexington Stakes on dirt at the start of last season but was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby through injury.

Siesta Key also runs for Brad Cox in the KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby, with the Into Mischief homebred having finished a close fourth in the American Derby at Churchill Downs in June.

Hard Spun filly Pondering heads into the KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint on the back of two strong runs, including a three-quarter length second over the course and distance in the Pea Patch Stakes on her latest outing.