Ellis on torrid pace
Trainer Ron Ellis was second in the Hollywood Park trainer standings heading into Wednesday's action with 11 victories, trailing runaway leader Doug O'Neill by seven wins. But Ellis, a 47-year-old resident of Arcadia, has saddled only 28 horses, meaning he's winning with an amazing 39 percent of his starters. That's an incredible rate, considering a 25-percent success rate is considered outstanding.
Ellis is hoping to start Buzzards Bay, winner of the Californian earlier this month, in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30. Ellis has never won a Gold Cup, but this could be his year. Buzzards Bay figures to face Lava Man, who's won the past two Gold Cups, in the Grade I event.
Also, Paulo Lobo is enjoying quite a meet himself. The 38-year-old Lobo, a native of Brazil who resides in Pasadena, has saddled 10 winners from 23 starters -- a 43-percent win percentage. Lobo was tied with John Sadler and Mike Mitchell for third in the trainer standings.
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