‘He Ran Huge’: Doncho Sets World Record On Turf At Ellis Park originally appeared on Paulick Report.
History was made Friday, Aug. 8, at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming when JAL Racing’s Doncho set a world record for 5 ½ furlongs on turf in :59.75, eclipsing the mark of :59.80 set by Cogburn in 2024 at Saratoga.
Ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. and trained by Michelle Lovell, Doncho went gate-to-wire in race 7 to score an 11-1 upset in the allowance event.
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“I’m so proud of this horse,” Lovell said. “He deserves the credit. He ran huge today, and I’m so thankful he was able to get to the winner’s circle again. Breaking a record by doing so was icing on the cake.”
The 4-year-old gelded son of Mo Town has now improved his record to four wins from eight starts.
The previous Ellis Park track record for 5 ½ furlongs on turf was 1:00.26, set by Totally Boss in 2019 during the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint.
Live racing resumes Saturday through Monday at Ellis Park with daily first posts at 11:50 a.m. CT.
Sunday is Ellis Park Derby Day, featuring six stakes races led by the $300,000 Ellis Park Derby presented by Hallway Feeds (Listed) and the $200,000 Groupie Doll (Listed).
The day also serves as Kentucky HBPA College Day, with scholarship prizes awarded throughout the 10-race card.
For more information about racing and gaming at Ellis Park, visit www.ellisparkowensborogaming.com.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.