Maybe the 14th time will be a charm for Todd Pletcher in the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1).
The Stephen Foster will be a rematch between First Mission and Skippylongstocking
The Hall of Fame trainer will send out a pair of 4-year-olds, 6-1 co-third choice Kingsbarns and 10-1 Dreamlike, in a field of nine for Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile race at Churchill Downs.
Pletcher has yet to win the Stephen Foster, but he has four second-place finishers from a total of 15 starters. His most recent runner-up was Americanrevolution in 2022.
He certainly won’t have the betting favorite in a competitive group featuring 6-5 top choice First Mission and 5-2 Skippylongstocking, each coming off two stakes victories.
The winner earns an all-fees paid, automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2 as part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ challenge series.
Dreamlike looks for breakthrough win
Dreamlike, a son of 2017 Stephen Foster winner Gun Runner, has finished in the top 3 in seven of his nine starts, but has just a maiden victory to show for it. However, he’ll be ridden by the nation’s leading rider in Irad Ortiz, Jr., who has been aboard for all his starts, including four second-place efforts.
The chestnut owned by Mike Repole and Vincent Viola, also the owner the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, finished third by three lengths in the Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on June 1 in his last start.
Kingsbarns seeks return to winner’s circle
Kingsbarns, a winner of five of eight career starts, including the 2023 Louisiana Derby (G2) and the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on April 20, ran second to Pyrenees in the Pimlico Special (G3) at Pimlico on May 17 in his last start.
First Mission tough to dismiss
First Mission. Coady Photo.
Four-year-old First Mission has won five of eight starts, including the 2023 Lexington Stakes (G3) and the Essex Handicap (G3) by five lengths at Oaklawn Park on March 23 and the Alysheba (G2) by four lengths at Churchill Downs on May 3. Florent Geroux has the call for trainer Brad Cox.
“He came out of the Alysheba very well and has been training great at Churchill,’’ Cox said. “The Stephen Foster is always a tough race year in and year out. It’s a Grade I, so that’s expected. This year’s field is no different, but we like our chances to try and get him his first Grade I win.”
Joseph confident with Skippylongstocking
And there’s Skippylongstocking, the 5-year-old son of Exaggerator who won the Challenger Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on March 9 and followed up with a win in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 24. Jose Ortiz has the call for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.
“If he runs as well as he did at Oaklawn last time, he’s going to be very tough,’’ Joseph said.
Post time for the Stephen Foster is 6:03 p.m. ET.
Notes: The last time First Mission and Skippylongstocking raced in a Grade 1 came on Jan. 27 in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. Neither fared well; First Mission struggled at Gulfstream Park and finished ninth, while Skippylongstocking was pulled up late while appearing to overheat … The undercard features Saturday are the $500,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2), the $500,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2), the $250,000 American Derby, the $250,000 Kelly’s Landing Stakes and the $250,000 Tepin Stakes.
For online horse betting folks, the Stephen Foster picks:
1 Dreamlike 2 First Mission 3 Skippylongstocking
The field for the $1 million Stephen Foster (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Pyreness (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Cherie DeVaux), 12-1
2 First Mission (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox), 6-5
3 Happy American (Corie Lanerie, Neil Pessin), 30-1
4 Disarm (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen), 6-1
5 Dreamlike (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 10-1
6 Classic Causeway (Julien Leparoux, Ken McPeek ), 30-1
7 Kingsbarns (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher), 6-1
8 Steal Sunshine (Paco Lopez, Bobby Dibona), 20-1
9 Skippylongstocking (Jose Ortiz, Saffie Joseph, Jr.), 5-2
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
