2024 Stephen Foster winner Kingsbarns. (Coady Media)
Richest Field In Stephen Foster History Set For Saturday’s 44th Renewal
Winners of Grade I Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup Classic, Dubai World Cup, Churchill Downs Lead Seven-Horse Field with More Than $26 Million in Combined Earnings
• Engraved Kentucky Derby 151 Trophies To Be Presented Saturday
• Special All Turf Pick 3 Offered Closing Weekend
• All-Stakes Derby City 6 To Be Offered Saturday
Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The $1 million Stephen Foster (Grade I) has consistently drawn top older horses to Churchill Downs, but this year’s edition is arguably the deepest and most accomplished in the race’s 44-year history.
Set for Saturday beneath the Twin Spires, the Stephen Foster will feature an elite group of seven runners who have combined to earn more than $26 million – the highest-earning field in Stephen Foster history. The lineup includes four of the sport’s most high-profile names: Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner Sierra Leone; Kentucky Derby 150 (GI) winner Mystik Dan; Churchill Downs (GI) winner Mindframe; and Dubai World Cup (GI) victor Hit Show, who enters with $8.4 million in earnings, the most of any horse to compete in the Stephen Foster at the time of the race.
Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Stephen Foster is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, scheduled for Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The race headlines a blockbuster 12-race program that also includes five additional stakes: the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (GII); $500,000 Wise Dan (GII); $250,000 Kelly’s Landing (GIII); $250,000 American Derby (Listed); and $250,000 Tepin (Listed).
Six of the seven Stephen Foster entrants are millionaires, and five have surpassed the $2 million earnings mark. In addition to Hit Show, the list of multi-millionaires includes Sierra Leone ($6 million), Mystik Dan ($4 million), Skippylongstocking ($3.6 million), First Mission ($2 million) and Mindframe ($1.2 million). Only Ashcroft, recently sixth in the Knicks Go Stakes, has yet to hit the million-dollar mark.
Skippylongstocking, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., leads the field with 11 career victories and enters off back-to-back graded stakes wins in the Challenger Stakes (GIII) and Hollywood Gold Cup (GII). He also posted the field’s highest last-out Brisnet Speed Rating, a 108, in the latter.
Mystik Dan, the Kentucky Derby winner and recent Blame Stakes (GIII) victor, has been especially effective at Churchill Downs, winning three of his four career victories beneath the Twin Spires.
Sierra Leone, who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic to cap his 3-year-old season, leads the field with two Grade I victories for trainer Chad Brown.
Stephen Foster by the Numbers
Earnings Power:
> $26,042,450 – Combined career earnings of the field, the richest in race history
> $8.4 million – Highest earnings at time of entry in race history, by Hit Show
> 6 of 7 – Entrants are millionaires
> 5 – Entrants have earned more than $2 millionProven Class:
> 5 – Grade I wins among the field, led by Sierra Leone with two
> 40 – Total career wins, led by Skippylongstocking with 11Churchill Downs Success:
> 8 – Combined wins at Churchill Downs> 3 – Local wins by Mystik Dan, the most of any entrantCurrent Form:
> 99.4 – Average Brisnet Speed Rating in last starts> 108 – Highest last-out Brisnet figure, by Skippylongstocking in the Hollywood Gold Cup
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Stephen Foster day at www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.
Horse Of The Year
Four horses used victories in the Stephen Foster as part of their resumés in Horse of the Year campaigns: Black Tie Affair (1991), Saint Liam (2005), Curlin (2008) and Gun Runner (2017). In addition, two Foster runner-ups were crowned Horse of the Year: Mineshaft (2003) and Wise Dan (2012).
Foster Stakes Record
Victory Gallop owns the stakes record for 1 1/8 miles of 1:47.28 established in 1999. That also was the track record until 4-year-old Gould’s Gold, trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by 4 G Racing LLC, Lance Gasaway and Magdalena Racing, ran 1 1/8 miles under Brian Hernandez Jr. in 1:47.26 earlier this meet on May 17. Canadian-bred Victory Gallop, owned by Prestonwood Farm LLC and trained by Elliott Walden, won the 1999 Foster as a 4-year-old by five lengths while carrying Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey and 120 pounds, 10 more than runner-up Nite Dreamer. Littlebitlively was another three-quarters of a length back in third. Silver Charm, the 1997 Kentucky Derby winner, was another 2 ¾ lengths back in fourth.
Foster Jockeys
Pat Day and Robby Albarado have won the Stephen Foster three times to lead all riders. Day’s Foster victories came in 1985 (Vanlandingham), 1998 (Awesome Again) and 2003 (Perfect Drift). Albarado won the race three consecutive years in 2007 (Flashy Bull), 2008 (Curlin) and 2009 (Macho Again). Jockeys in this year’s field with previous Foster wins: Florent Geroux (2017 Gun Runner), Brian Hernandez Jr. (2013 Fort Larned), Jose Ortiz (2021 Maxfield), Flavien Prat (2023 West Will Power) and Luis Saez (2024 Kingsbarns). Julien Leparoux and Irad Ortiz Jr. seek their first Foster wins.
Foster Trainers
Eight trainers have won the Stephen Foster twice: Forrest Kaelin (1982-83 with Vodika Collins); Jere Smith Jr. (1994-95 with Recoup The Cash); Pat Byrne (1997-98 with City by Night and Awesome Again); Mark Casse (2011 with Pool Play and 2015 with Noble Bird); Steve Asmussen(2008 with Curlin and 2017 with Gun Runner); Dallas Stewart (2009 with Macho Again and 2019 with Seeking the Soul); Al Stall Jr. (2010 with Blame and 2020 with Tom’s d’Etat); and Bill Mott (2012 with Ron the Greek and 2023 with Olympiad). Trainers in this year’s field with previous Foster wins: Brad Cox (2023 West Will Power) and Todd Pletcher (2024 Kingsbarns). Chad Brown, Saffie Joseph Jr., Wayne Lukas and Kenny McPeek seek their first Foster victories.
Foster Win And You’re In
The 44th running of the $1 million Stephen Foster (Grade I) is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. The winner of the 1 1/8-mile race for 4-year-olds and up will earn a spot in the starting gate for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Del Mar on Saturday, Nov. 1. Also, the winner’s entry fees to the Classic will be paid and will receive a travel stipend if based outside the state of Kentucky. The Foster is the first domestic “Win and You’re In” race for the Classic and has been a part of the “Win and You’re In” series since 2013. Four horses have won the Stephen Foster and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the same year. Black Tie Affair (1991) and Awesome Again (1998) won both races at Churchill Downs. Saint Liam (2005) won his running of the Classic at Belmont Park. Gun Runner (2017) won his Classic at Del Mar. Additionally, Fort Larned won the Classic in 2012 at Santa Anita and returned to his home base to win the 2013 Stephen Foster.
Engraved Kentucky Derby 151 Trophies To Be Presented Saturday
The connections from Team Sovereignty – owner/breeder Godolphin; trainer Bill Mott; and jockey Junior Alvarado – will be at Churchill Downs on Saturday to accept their newly-engraved Kentucky Derby 151 trophies for the colt’s thrilling victory on May 3. The ceremony in the Woodford Reserve Winner’s Circle is scheduled after Race 9 at approximately 4:58 p.m. The Oaks ceremony for Good Cheer – owner/breeder Godolphin; trainer Brad Cox; and Luis Saez – will be in the winner’s circle after Race 8 at approximately 4:25 p.m.
All-Stakes Derby City 6 To Be Offered Saturday
Churchill Downs will offer an all-stakes Derby City 6 Jackpot, Late Pick 5, Late Pick 4 and a special $3 All-Turf Pick 3 as part of its wagering menu Saturday. The all-stakes Derby City 6 will cover Races 7-12 starting at 3:52 p.m., which will encompass the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (Race 7), Tepin (Race 8), Kelly’s Landing (Race 9), Wise Dan (Race 10), Stephen Foster (Race 11) and American Derby (Race 12). All told, there will be four Pick 5s (Races 1-5, Races 4-8, Races 6-10 and Races 8-12) and three Pick 4s (Races 2-5, Races 5-8 and Races 9-12) on the card. Both the Pick 4 and Pick 5 are 50-cent minimum bets. The Derby City 6 Jackpot is a 20-cent minimum. The All-Turf Pick 3 will encompass the Tepin (Race 8), Wise Dan (Race 10) and American Derby (Race 12).
Derby City 6 Jackpot Hits Seven Figures For Thursday’s Sequence
Horseplayers will be chasing a massive $1,230,024 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot on Thursday afternoon to kick off closing week of the 2025 Spring Meet at Churchill Downs
Thursday’s sequence: (with field size as of 11 a.m.)
Race 3 (5:58 p.m.): Mdn 92k ®, f&m, 7 F (eight runners)
Race 4 (6:27 p.m.): OC 100000n3x, 3&up, 1 1/8 M (T) (nine runners)
Race 5 (6:56 p.m.): Clm 40000, 4&up, 1 1/16 M (nine runners)
Race 6 (7:25 p.m.): OC 125000n1x, 3yo f, 1 1/16 M (eight runners)
Race 7 (7:54 p.m.): OC 80000n2x, 3&up, 6 F (12 runners)
Race 8 (8:23 p.m.) Mdn 120k, 3&up, 5 ½ F (T) (12 runners)
The Churchill Downs record carryover is $1,694,336 on Nov. 18, 2005. The following day $4,004,157 of new money was bet into the pool. The $2 Pick 6 that day paid $32,865.
Track conditions were Fast/Firm as of 11 a.m. with the temporary rail on the Matt Winn Turf Course set in Lane 3, 24 feet from the inside.
The Derby City 6 Jackpot tests bettors to correctly select all six winners, and if they have the only winning combination, they will take down the entire jackpot. If there are multiple winning combinations, 90 percent of the day’s pool is paid out with the other 10 percent going to the carryover. If there are no correct combinations, the entire day’s pool will be added to the jackpot.
Sunday’s card will feature mandatory payout in all wagers.
Special All Turf Pick 3 Offered Closing Weekend
A special $3 All-Turf Pick 3 has been added to the wagering menu for Saturday and Sunday’s cards at Churchill Downs, the final two days of the 43-day Spring Meet.
The $3 All-Turf Pick 3 will have an all-stakes sequence for the Saturday’s card and feature the $500,000 Wise Dan (Grade II), $250,000 American Derby (Listed) and $250,000 Tepin Stakes (Listed).
The bet will have a horseplayer-friendly 15-percent takeout and be available to bet on track at Churchill Downs, simulcast and ADW outlets across North America and www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.
The Saturday sequence will begin with the Tepin Stakes in Race 8 at 4:25 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.
Sunday’s wager begins in Race 5 at 2:46 p.m. The sequence includes a wide-open field of allowance horses (Race 5, 11 entries), the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes (Race 9, nine entries) and an uber-competitive cast in a maiden special weight (Race 12, 12 entries plus three also-eligibles).
Along with the $3 All-Turf Pick 3, the closing day will include mandatory payouts in all wagers.
For more information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com
Down The Stretch … … ….. …..
Stephen Foster 5-2 morning line favorite Sierra Leone galloped about 1 ½ miles Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. The colt schooled in the paddock during the second race Wednesday afternoon. Fellow Stephen Foster competitors Hit Show and Mindframe schooled in the paddock Thursday morning following training hours. …
Jockey Corey Lanerie matched Calvin Borel’s second all-time win total at Churchill Downs after Murphy’s Girl won the finale Wednesday afternoon. Lanerie and Borel each have 1,232 wins at Churchill Downs but are far behind all-time leader Pat Day with 2,482 victories. Lanerie had mounts in Races 3, 6 and 7 Thursday. …
“Inside Churchill Downs” will preview all the action for Stephen Foster Day Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN 680/105.7. Join Churchill Downs’ Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein for the final episode of the show for the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. Those outside the Louisville area can stream live on www.espnlouisville.com. …
For more information on the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
