Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown stepped down in class off a layoff, and stepped up to get back in the winner's circle, prevailing by a handy 1 3/4 lengths in the $150,000 R.A. "Cowboy" Jones, one of six stakes on a busy Sunday card at Ellis Park. Favored Saudi Crown ($3.36) broke alertly and was on top by a length through the opening quarter of the one-mile race - which is run at a 1 1/2-turn configuration on the main track at Ellis - but Pipeline quickly came up to press him as they swung onto the backstretch. Saudi Crown had just a head in front through the half-mile in 45.92, but was traveling comfortably for Florent Geroux. When roused, he kicked clear by two lengths in upper stretch, and safely held sway to the wire, finishing the mile on the fast track in 1:36.57. Injunction, who raced in the vanguard throughout, held second by a neck from the rallying Happy American. Saudi Crown, a 4-year-old son of Always Dreaming, is trained by Brad Cox for FMQ Stables. He burst onto the scene by winning his first two starts, finishing second in both the Grade 3 Dwyer and Grade 2 Jim Dandy, and then scoring a gutsy half-length win on a sloppy, sealed track in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. A trip cross-country and facing top older horses at 10 furlongs proved too much for the lightly raced colt, who was 10th in the Breeders' Cup Classic last November. Saudi Crown returned to action this season to win the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes, then was a fine third in the Group 1 Saudi Cup. He cut back for the Group 2 Godolphin Mile, but, on an evening when Cox said he was somewhat unsettled, the colt was 12th. Sunday at Ellis Park marked his first outing since that race, on March 30, and could propel him back to bigger things. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. "It was a good start back for him today," Geroux, who has ridden the colt in every race but the Dwyer, told track publicity. "This being his first start since competing overseas, it was a good spot to get back before bigger races this fall. He usually shows a lot of speed, but he doesn’t always have to be on the lead. There was some other horses with speed in the race today but he took me to the front. He showed his class. I think he handled the one-turn mile today very well and this sort of distance suits him a lot better than the mile-and-a-quarter. I’d expect his campaign the rest of the fall to include races at a mile." While Saudi Crown was favored, it was bombs away in the sister race, the $175,000 Groupie Doll for fillies and mares going the mile. In a blanket finish, Pigalle ($48.86) and Luan Machado, seventh of eight at the halfway point, surged in the four-path in the final yards to edge Fancy by a neck at the wire. Mystic Pleasure, who broke from the rail and continued to save ground while setting the pace, was another neck back, holding third on the inside. It was just a half-length to Musical Mischief, between Mystic Pleasure and Fancy, in fourth. The time for the mile was 1:36.99. Pigalle, who races as a homebred for Claiborne Farm, is trained by Tom Drury Jr. This was the stakes debut for the filly, although she has been consistent, not finishing worse than second in well over a year. She made her first start of 2024 a winning one, in an allowance race in May at Churchill Downs, and moved forward in her second outing. "We all know Blame fillies get better with time," Drury said, referencing the filly's sire. "We got her some starter eligibility to gain her confidence. Now we are able to reap the rewards to being patient with her. Such an honor to win a race like this for Claiborne. She was all try and I’m just so proud of my filly." Cox, Geroux team up for win, second with 3-year-olds. Cox and Geroux teamed up for another winner as Most Wanted held on for a nose victory in the $175,000 Ellis Park Derby. Most Wanted ($8.06), a homebred for Gary and Mary West, had Not This Boy hounding on his hip through an opening half in 47.38 and six furlongs in 1:11.14. He shook clear by a length in upper stretch, but Not This Boy wasn't done yet, coming with a last surge in the final yards. Most Wanted held on by a nose, finishing the mile in 1:35.86. Most Wanted remained unbeaten with the win in his stakes debut. He won a maiden special weight on June 21 at Churchill Downs, and then an allowance race on July 21 at Ellis. In the sister race, the $175,000 Audubon Oaks, Cox and Geroux had to settle for second, as Fibber, with Axel Concepcion in the irons for Chris Hartman, ran down the former duo's favored Tarifa for a 2 1/4-length win. After the top two, it was three lengths to Adogate in third. The time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.52. Fibber ($7.56) has hinted at ability with stakes placings at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, and Evangeline, but this was her breakthrough at the level. She came to the Audubon Oaks off a powerful allowance-optional claiming win on June 28 at Churchill that made her the second choice. Meanwhile, Tarifa, winner of the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra and Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks earlier this year, was making her first start since finishing a non-factor ninth in the Kentucky Oaks on the first Friday in May. The filly was forwardly placed throughout in a compact group, but could not hold off Fibber's final charge. Owen Almighty, Stilettos win juvenile stakes Owen Almighty ($3.34) remained unbeaten in his two starts with a 4 3/4-length victory in the $175,000 Ellis Park Juvenile. Bashford Manor winner Politicallycorrect was forwardly placed - in contrast to his previous win, when he made a wide sweep to the lead - and had a head in front of Owen Almighty coming into the stretch. But Owen Almighty was traveling easily under Cristian Torres, and poked a head in front willingly when asked. Although Politicallycorrect put up a strong fight, Owen Almighty found his measure in the final yards, and kicked clear, finishing the seven furlongs in 1:24.36. It was another four lengths from Politicallycorrect to Three Echoes, earning his third career stakes placing, in third. Owen Almighty is trained by Brian Lynch for Boardshorts Stables. In the sister race, Stilettos ($6.10) also remained unbeaten with a 1 1/2-length score in the $175,000 Ellis Park Debutante. The filly, who had Brian Hernandez Jr., in the irons for Bret Calhoun and Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing, had rolled by 16 3/4 lengths in her debut in June at Lone Star. Sunday's race represented a step up in class, and a step up in distance from five furlongs to seven. She proved the debut win was no aberration, as she dueled with favored Rich City Girl before disposing of her in the lane, pulling clear to her final margin. She finished the seven furlongs in 1:25.14. Rich City Girl was easily second-best, 8 1/2 lengths clear of Adeera. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.