Three Chimneys Farm LLC’s homebred colt Igniter drew off to a four-length victory in Sunday’s $400,000 Ellis Park Derby to give the 3-year-old Volatile colt his second stakes win.
Igniter got an ideal setup in the one-mile race when Spun D M C shot to the lead, with Igniter and Corona de Oro no more than two lengths from the front through the first half-mile. Going three-wide on the final turn, Igniter passed Spun D M C, and Corona de Oro did the same along the rail.
Coming into the stretch, Igniter had a slight advantage then steadily increased the margin down the lane to finish in 1:35.56 on a fast main track.
“He broke running,” said winning jockey Luis Saez. “We were hoping he’d have a target to run at, and it worked out that way. I think the distance was perfect for him.”
Igniter is trained by Richard Dutrow, Jr. and is now 4-0-3 in eight starts and has earned $463,700. In addition to his two stakes wins, Igniter placed in both the Maxfield S. (G3) and Chick Lang S. this term.
Igniter’s dam is Grade 1 winner Malibu Prayer, who is also responsible for stakes winner Mickswagger.
Volatile, in the top five on this year’s Third-Crop sire list, has six stakes winners to date in 2026, topped by the dynamic Churchill Downs S. (G1) winner T O Elvis.
