Foster Anchors A Super Saturday At Churchill Downs

[Wandering Eyes]

About the only thing missing from Saturday's $1-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes is a Horse of the Year–for good measure, she runs elsewhere on Saturday's blockbuster program on the final weekend of racing at Churchill Downs–but the nine-furlong event is rich in quality and brings together the winners of such prestigious events such as the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, the GI Kentucky Derby, and the G1 Dubai World Cup.

A 'bananas' Foster, indeed.

The horses that will line up for the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for this year's Classic have amassed earnings of better than $26 million, the most in the history of the Foster and even more noteworthy that just a field of seven heads to the post. Curlin (2007-2008) and Fort Larned (2012-2013) completed the Classic/Foster double and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone–a son of 2017 Foster/Classic hero Gun Runner–looks to join that select group on Saturday. Having earned a field-best 112 Beyer when getting the set-up of all set-ups at Del Mar last November, the dark bay was perhaps a bit ring-rusty when staying on into third behind all-the-way winner Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) in the GII New Orleans Classic in his lone appearance this season over three months ago. He wants a truly run race and there doesn't appear to be a great deal of pace signed on for the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

Mystik Dan (Goldencents) can make history as he would become the first Kentucky Derby winner to follow up with a victory in the Foster. Soundly defeated in the GI Malibu Stakes and in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, the homebred bay bounced back to something approaching his best when just failing to catch Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) in the May 3 Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He was the recipient of a golden trip in the May 31 GIII Blame Stakes and took full advantage, coming away to score by 1 1/4 lengths under his regular mate Brian Hernandez, Jr., who feels the colt is holding his form.

“He worked last Saturday, in company with [nine-furlong track-record setter] Gould's Gold (Goldencents), and it was phenomenal,” Hernandez, Jr. said. “He did everything just like we wanted him to and his gallop out was very impressive. He looks like he's going into this race well and on the right track. The nice thing about him right now is his mind is really good.”

Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) caused a massive surprise in upsetting the likes of Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in this year's World Cup back on Apr. 5 and looks to follow in the hoofprints of Street Cry (Ire) in 2002 and Curlin in 2008 to tack on a win in the Foster. Impressive winner of the GIII Louisiana Stakes on his 5-year-old debut in January, the gray was a distant third to 'Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) in the GI Santa Anita Handicap, but validated the decision by Wathnan Racing and Brad Cox to make the trip to the desert, coming from a seemingly unlikely position to run down Mixto (Good Magic), with Forever Young third.

'TDN Rising Stars' First Mission (Street Sense) and Mindframe (Constitution) add considerable depth to the Foster. Fourth as the odds-on pop in last year's renewal, First Mission has looked good in his two starts this term, just missing in the GIII Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Feb. 23 before running out a two-length winner of the GII Oaklawn Handicap, earning a career-best 109 Beyer. Luis Saez takes over for Flavien Prat, who sticks with Sierra Leone. After finishing runner-up in last year's GI Belmont Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes, Mindframe scaled the heights when proving best in a four-way photo in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes May 3. He is the possible speed from gate two.

All Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) has done is win 11 of his 32 starts for earnings of $3.6 million. And still, he looks like a bit of an outsider here, though he enters off a 3/4-length victory in the GII Hollywood Gold Cup May 26.

Ashcroft (Munnings) completes the field and it would be a major shock if his starting price is less than 100-1.

'Anna' On Recovery Mission In Fleur de Lis

Reigning Horse of the Year and 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) gets Saturday's graded action off on a high note as the prohibitive favorite in a field of five in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes, with an all-expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at stake.

With a 2 1/2-length defeat of Raging Sea (Curlin) in that event last fall, the $40,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling sewed up divisional and HOTY honors and, in all fairness, she was more workmanlike than she was brilliant in taking out the GII Azeri Stakes and GI Apple Blossom Handicap in her first two starts at four. Expected to extend her winning streak to five in the GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne Stakes May 2, she was knocked around going into the first turn and never quite looked herself, finishing last of seven. But she's worked well since and retains the full confidence of her trainer.

“It looks like it took the breath out of her,” said Ken McPeek. “That's really all we could figure out that happened. Talking to [jockey] Brian Hernandez, Jr., he said she got hit pretty good. Any way you look at it, she didn't run well. The best-laid plans didn't work out.

“In the meantime, we've just sort of taken our time and it's been nearly two months since her last run and we're really optimistic she can get back to her top form.”

Calumet Farm's Gin Gin (Hightail) proved that her 38-1 upset of the GIII Baird Doubledogdare Stakes was no fluke, finishing a good second to Royal Spa (Violence) in the GIII Shawnee Stakes on Foster Preview Day May 31, while La Troienne runner-up Taxed (Collected) will nevertheless need to find a handful of lengths to be a factor here.

In the day's other graded events beneath the Twin Spires, Booth (Mitole) looks to make it five straight–four in graded company–but faces a stiff challenge in the GIII Kelly's Landing Stakes in the form of the intriguing California raider Dr Venkman (Ghostzapper) from the barn of Mark Glatt. Brillant Berti (Noble Mission {GB}) looms the one to beat in the GII Wise Dan Stakes having finished runner-up to the Cinderella kid Mercante (Gun Runner) after uncustomarily making the running in the GIII Arlington Stakes four weeks back. Fort Washington (War Front) ships in for Shug McGaughey off a one-length success in the GIII Dinner Party Stakes over rain-affected Pimlico turf May 17, and Mi Hermano Ramon (Creative Cause) ships in from the Golden State off a near-miss second in the GI Shoemaker Mile Stakes May 26.

'Patches' Resurfaces In the Highlander

Woodbine plays host to five graded events Saturday afternoon that comprise the Canada Day Racing Festival, and that country's reigning Horse of the Year is also on display.

Patches O'Houlihan (Reload) makes his second start of the season in the GII Highlander Stakes and looks to stay unbeaten in three tries on the grass, including the GII Nearctic Stakes over this course and six-furlong distance last October. Subsequently beaten by GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) in the GII Kennedy Road Stakes back on the Tapeta in November, the homebred resumed with a four-length score in the May 4 Thorncliffe Stakes. He makes his first start since being scratched from the GIII Jacques Cartier Stakes on May 31.

Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach), who beat the boys in the 2024 King's Plate, returns to the turf for the card-closing GII Nassau Stakes. An allowance winner over 7 1/2 furlongs last July, she was third to She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) in the GI QE II Challenge Cup in October and exits a five-length tally in the May 31 GIII Belle Mahone Stakes on the synth.

Sophomore colts and fillies get their chance in the GIII Marine Stakes and GIII Selene Stakes, respectively, and a well-matched field of eight heads to the post for the GIII Dominion Day Stakes.

The post Foster Anchors A Super Saturday At Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article