Dade Park Dash

Purse $175.00 – For Three Year Olds

5½  Furlongs – Turf

Ellis Park – July 4, 2026

The Fourth of July provides a fitting backdrop for the fourth edition of the Dade Park Dash at Ellis Park, with six talented sophomores set to sprint on the grass. This race has seen consistent growth since its inception, with the purse rising from $100.00 to $175.00 through annual $25.00 increases. Three runnings have produced three different winning owners, but Mb Stables could break that trend by becoming the first owner to capture the Dade Park Dash twice. It’s also worth mentioning that jockey James Graham is seeking a third straight victory in this race to add to his already towering résumé. With this stakes finally contested over firm turf for the first time last year, Chili King Stables’ Teterboro responded by establishing a new stakes record in 1:02.58. This year’s lineup offers plenty of intrigue, combining horses experimenting with grass for the first time with runners that have already proven themselves at the allowance and stakes levels. Here’s a closer look at how each of the six contenders stacks up:

1. Cosmic Energy – (Mb Stables, N. Juarez) Trying the turf for the first time after four career starts on the main track. Connections won with Cosmic Energy first time out and made the jump into stakes company in his second start at Gulfstream Park with equipment changes. That resulted in a third-place finish. The Lafayette Stakes was tried next going ⅞ and the son of Solar System only made up enough ground to get fourth. Mb Stables decided to geld Cosmic Energy at that point. He was the favorite in the King Corrie last time out with new instructions and ran an even third. Looking at this gelding’s recent workout tab, he just worked ⅝ on the turf in 57.70, suggesting he’s ready to go.

2. Down To Earth – (Riggins Racing, E. Morales) A versatile gelding who is a stakes winner on both turf and dirt. He rattled off three wins in a row on the grass as a two-year-old, including the Grade Three Futurity at Aqueduct. Down To Earth ended the year with an eighth-place finish in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Connections then tried to get this son of Chase My Tail Lights on the Derby trail running in four consecutive points races. He ended up winning the RP Springboard Mile but didn’t do much as the distances got longer. I think the cutback in distance makes total sense as Down To Earth is already proven at this level. No question he will be a major contender.

3. Credit Criminal – (Aer Stables, J R. Leparoux) This Ontario homebred has been trying to find his way since breaking his maiden last September. Connections have been determined to make this colt a stakes winner, though the task has proven easier said than done. Different instructions have been used from race to race, from coming off the pace to trying to make every pole a winning one. However, things started to look up two starts ago when Credit Criminal tried the grass for the first time in the Shear Mile Stakes. He won that race at 6½ furlongs and parlayed that effort with a second in The Walker at Churchill Downs. Now that Credit Criminal has found his new home, he’ll be my top pick in here.

4. Kynsli – (Royalty Stables, B J. Hernandez Jr.) All nine starts of this colt’s career have come on the turf. He ended up winning first time out against state-bred company at Saratoga and jumped straight into the $1,000.00 KD Juvenile Sprint. Kynsli made up a little bit of ground but ended up finishing fifth by a length. The son of Valvano ended his two-year-old season with a win in an N1X at Parx going two turns. Now in 2026, he has only been running around a route of ground in stakes and allowances. Out of the four starts this year, Kynsli has only hit the board once. I don’t mind this entry as the return to a shorter distance should work in his favor. He’ll be my longshot pick in here.

5. Hobo – (D J C Racing Stables, J. Graham) One of the more lightly raced colts entered this year with experience in both sprinting and routing on the turf. He broke his maiden at Monmouth Park going two turns and won a state-bred stakes two races later. Connections took advantage of the N1X condition in March (not having won a race other than maiden or State-Bred) but failed to fire. It was most likely due to D J C trying Lasix and Bute. Last time out, Hobo tried going 5½ on the turf in The Walker Stakes. He settled four lengths off the pace and came with a good run down the stretch, losing by just under a length. This gelding’s best chance of winning is if there is a pace meltdown.

6. Symphonyforthedevil – (Big Jd Racing, L. Machado) Symphonyforthedevil is a habitual deep closer who is going to need the perfect trip to win. This son by Nice Stock Broker has exclusively been sprinting on the grass for his last eight starts. He’s had multiple tries against allowance and stakes company throughout the beginning of 2026 but has been a bit camera shy. However, last time out this gelding had a career-best effort winning an N1X at Aqueduct. It produced a 94 SRF speed figure going off as the post time favorite. That race was at six furlongs, so jockey Luan Machado is going to hope for a fast pace upfront. Watch out for this guy flying down the stretch late.

– AJM

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded