Ellis Closes with the Cliff Guilliams H.

The 2013 Summer meet at Ellis Park comes to a close on Labor Day with a full nine-race card that includes the running of the Cliff Guilliams Handicap for horses three years old and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf, racing for a purse of $50,000. With eight entries, it’s setting up to be a wide-open closing feature, with Depeche Chat listed as a lukewarm 7-2 morning line favorite, followed by Big Town at 9-2 and Derby Kitten at 4-1.

Depeche Chat should be better in second after layoff

A Florida-bred Wild Heir gelding, the five-year-old Depeche Chat will be making only his second appearance of the season, and first ever at Ellis Park. He was showing some positive signs last season with three straight wins including a minor stakes score going a mile at Kentucky Downs, but ended his campaign well-beaten to the likes of Boisterous, Skyring and Optimizer in the Grade III River City Handicap at Churchill. He’s coming into the Guillaims off a fifth-place finish in his season bow in allowance company at Indiana.

Big Town wants to be one better than last year

Of the others, Big Town makes his return to the Cliff Guilliams after finishing second as the favorite last year, getting up for the place after an awkward start. He most recently scored in a $57,000 allowance event at Churchill, but couldn’t keep up after stalking the pace in the Golden Bear Stakes at Indiana last time out and finished last of five. Derby Kitten is from the Kitten’s Joy empire, and did in fact run the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Since then he’s tumbled down the ranks, with his most recent win a $50,000 claimer at Churchill in May.