(Most Wanted wins the Ellis Park Derby / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From Ellis Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

MOST WANTED WINS THE ELLIS PARK DERBY BY A NOSE

HENDERSON, Kentucky (Sunday, August 11, 2024) – Gary and Mary West‘S Most Wanted needed every inch of the Ellis Park Racing & Gaming track and held back Not this boy to win the seventh Ellis Park Derby presented by Hallway Feeds (Listed) on Sunday with a prize purse of $260,000.

Most Wanted, who is now unbeaten after just three starts, ran a mile in 1:35.86 for trainer Brad Helmsmanand jockey Florent Geroux.

Most Wanted got off to a sharp start and sprinted to a one-length lead over Not This Boy while running the quarter mile in :24.27. On the final turn, Most Wanted held his position on the inside lane while Not This Boy stayed two lengths back and was the 6-5 favorite. Who are you? was in the race after a slow start. On the home straight, Most Wanted was able to achieve more and more and keep Not This Boy at bay.

Who Dey finished third, 9 ½ lengths ahead Hometown And Route trip.

“When he started so sharply, I just wanted to make sure we had enough energy left for the home straight,” said Geroux. “He has continued to improve in each of his three starts. I think he is slowly getting better. He just needed some time to understand things, but the way he won today was very professional. When he put in the effort towards the end of the home straight, you could see that he didn’t want to lose.”

Most Wanted is a homebred son of Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk. With his victory in the Ellis Park Derby, Most Wanted increased his prize money to a solid $279,553.