For those who bet horse racing, Saturday’s $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) presents an intriguing challenge, with Mystik Dan going against Sierra Leone for the first time since they were separated by a nose in the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Mystik Dan, the Derby winner trained by Kenny McPeek, rebounded from an 0-for-5 post-Derby record with a 1 ¼-length victory in the Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 31.
Sierra Leone returns to the scene of his narrow Derby defeat for the first time. The Chad Brown-trained colt later won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to close out his season as the 3-year-old champion and finished third in the New Orleans Classic (G2) on March 24 in his 4-year-old debut.
A field of seven is entered, including fellow Grade 1 winners Mindframe (Churchill Downs Stakes) and Hit Show (Dubai World Cup) as well as multiple graded stakes winner Skippylongstocking and First Mission.
Six of the seven horses in the race have combined purse earnings of about $26 million, with Hit Show the leader at $8.4 million (most of it from his win in Dubai).
The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster is the top event of the day at Churchill Downs, but there are five other stakes races on the 12-race card – led by 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna looking to win the $500,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) against four rivals.
Both the Stephen Foster and Fleur de Lis are Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In’’ races; the Stephen Foster winner for the BC Classic and the Fleur de Lis to the BC Distaff (G1), both on Nov. 1
The other stakes races on the card are the $500,000 Wise Dan (G2); the $250,000 Kelly’s Landing (G3); the $250,000 American Derby; and the $250,000 Tepin.
Post time for the Stephen Foster is 6:03 p.m. ET.
Thorpedo Anna, who won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) last year, looks to rebound following a troubled seventh-place finish in the La Troienne Stakes (GI) at Churchill Downs on May 2 when she was bumped repeatedly into the first turn.
Regular rider Brian Hernandez, Jr., has the call again leaving from post 3 as Thorpedo Anna will be a heavy favorite for McPeek. Prior to the rare loss, Thorpedo Anna began her 4-year-old campaign with victories in the Azeri Stakes (G2) and the Apple Blossom Stakes (GI) at Oaklawn Park.
Also entered are La Troienne runner-up Taxed; Shawnee Stakes (G3) winner (G3) winner Royal Spa; Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) winner Gin Gin, and Save Time.
Mercante leads a field of nine for the 36th running of the Wise Dan at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Post time for the race is 5:31 p.m.
Mercante, trained by Brian Knippenberg, won last month’s Arlington Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, defeating Brilliant Berti – also entered in the Wise Dan -- by a neck.
Brilliant Berti has won six of 10 career starts for trainer Cherie DeVaux, and will be ridden by Brian Hernandez, Jr. From post 7. DeVaux also sends out Talking Candy.
Another contender should be Mi Hermano Ramon, winner of last year’s Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar and most recently second by a neck to King of Gosford in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Booth, a multiple graded-stakes winner, takes on seven rivals in the 6 ½-furlong Kelly’s Landing. Post time is 4:58 p.m.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Booth is a seven-time winner from 11-career starts, including three Grade 3’s -- the Whitmore Stakes, the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, and most recently the Maryland Sprint.
Durante, a 33-1 upset winner of the Aristides Stakes (G3) on May 31 at Churchill Downs, is also in the field but don’t look for similar odds.
Dr. Venkman, the winner of last year’s San Diego Handicap (G2), ships in from California for trainer Mark Glatt.
Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Tiztastic returns to the turf against nine fellow 3-year-olds in the 1 1/16-mile American Derby. Post time is 6:32 p.m., the final race of the day)
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Tiztastic finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby on May 3. As a 2-year-old, Tiztastic won a pair of turf races in 11 days at Kentucky Downs – an allowance race and then the $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile. Joel Rosario has the call leaving from post 3.
Also in the field is Bourbon Stakes (G2) winner Minaret Station and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Flying Mohawk
Vixen leads a competitive field of eight 3-year-old fillies in the 1-mile turf test. Post time for is 4:25 p.m.
Vixen, trained by Mark Casse, has finished behind stablemate Nitrogen – the nation’s top 3-year-old filly on turf. She was third in the Edgewood Stakes (G2) and second in the Appalachian Stakes (G2). Back in March the filly won the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Also entered is multiple graded stakes-placed Lush Lip, who also finished behind Nitrogen in her prior two starts. She was second in the Edgewood and in the Florida Oaks (G3).
1 First Mission (Luis Saez, Brad Cox)
2 Mindframe (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher)
3 Skippylongstocking (Jose Ortiz, Saffie Joseph, Jr.)
4 Sierra Leone (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown)
5 Mystik Dan (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Kenny McPeek)
6 Hit Show (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox)
7 Ashcroft (Julien Leparoux, D. Wayne Lukas)
