MID AMERICAN (c, 2, Epicenter–Wampum Girl, by Exchange Rate) made the swap from dirt to turf for this second start and did not disappoint his backers at 7-1 odds.
Debuted July 17 on the neighboring main track with blinkers on that afternoon, he didn't have much to show when running seventh behind well-supported Bob Baffert charge Salahudin (Uncle Mo). That runner returned later in the card to win the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes by a commanding margin.
Shedding the equipment and drawn inside for this turf debut, Mid American came out at the jump but recovered well to track the action from off the pace set by Just Got Paid (Olympiad).
In contention and on the move after :21.94 and :45 flat, the eye-catching chestnut tipped to the outside entering the lane and had the longtime leader squarely in his sights. Mid American took command passing the furlong marker and opened his advantage to 3 1/4 lengths on the wire.
Mid American is the fourth winner for Epicenter (Not This Time).
The victor is out of a half-sister to GISW Bordonaro (Memo {Chi}) and SW & GISP Miss Empire (Empire Maker)–herself the granddam of MSP Quality Chic (Quality Road). Mid American is her most recent to the races and the last registered offspring thus far. Wampum Girl was bred to Barnes for 2027.
This is the immediate female family of accomplished French racemare Beyond the Waves (Ocean Crest), who went on in her breeding career to garner top honors as Broodmare of the Year in 2019 due in part to the exploits of her son, Horse of the Year and champion turf male Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway). She is also the granddam of SW & GSP Blackmail (Not This Time) as well as MSP Social Code (Constitution).
1st-Ellis, $99,855, Msw, 8-9, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.11, fm, 3 1/4 lengths.
MID AMERICAN (c, 2, Epicenter–Wampum Girl, by Exchange Rate) Sales history: $75,000 Ylg '25 FTKOCT; $180,000 2yo '26 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $59,246. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-Doubledown Stables, Inc.; B-Sunny Oak Farm (KY); T-James P. DiVito.
finds speed on debut to win the lid-lifter at Ellis Park for jockey @jaimetorresjcky and trainer James DiVito.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/aQmH7fm10t
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 9, 2026
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