LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Olympiad tracked a quick pace, grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch and held a rallying Americanrevolution at bay in deep stretch to win Saturday’s 41st running of the $740,000 Stephen Foster (Grade II) at Churchill Downs by 2 ¼ lengths while clocking 1 1/8 miles in a swift 1:47.66 – the seventh fastest renewal of the race and just .38 off Victory Gallop’s 1999 stakes and track record of 1:47.28
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado for owners Grandview Equine (Robert Clay), Cheyenne Stable LLC (Everett Dobson) and LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci and Jaime Roth), Olympiad rated one length back of pacesetter Caddo River, who rattled off fractions :23.05, :46.45 and 1:10.64.
Around the final turn, Olympiad was ready to pounce on the tiring leader. Simultaneously, Mandaloun, who was made the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner following the disqualification of Medina Spirit, loomed boldly from third in his first start since a ninth-place finish in the $20 million Saudi Cup (GI) on Feb. 26, and Grade I Cigar Mile winner Americanrevolution tipped out for his charge from fourth.
Olympiad, who began the week ranked No. 5 on the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll behind Flightline, Country Grammer, Life Is Good and Jackie’s Warrior, kicked clear in upper stretch and held strong in the final furlong to collect his fifth consecutive win. His list of victories this year includes triumphs in the $250,000 Mineshaft (GIII), $500,000 New Orleans, $500,000 Alysheba (GII) and now $740,000 Stephen Foster (GII).
“I thought it was a very game win this afternoon,” Mott said via telephone. “There were some nice horses in this field and I thought he did things rather easily. It was really nice to see him win like that.”
His next attempt is likely to be an attempt to collect a Grade I victory in the $1 million Whitney at Saratoga in five weeks on Aug. 6.
“Bill Mott likes to have horses on win streaks, like Cigar,” said Mott’s Kentucky-based assistant Kenny McCarthy. “This horse has started one of his own and he’s been such a pleasure every time he’s run in our care in Kentucky. The whole team did a great job to get him back here and it’s very special to win the Stephen Foster again. He has such a big stride and it’s so powerful in the late stages of his races.”
Mott also won the 2012 Stephen Foster with Ron the Greek.
The lofty $455,320 first prize lifted the bay Kentucky-bred colt’s earnings to millionaire status: $1,407,560 from a record of 7-1-1 in 10 starts.
“This horse has such a big stride on him and really extends it late in races,” Alvarado said. “I think as he’s gotten older, he’s gotten faster in each start. Today we sat in a good position just off of the early pace and he showed how powerful his stride can be. I asked him just a little bit in the final furlong and he continued to get faster. He’s a great horse and has shown his talent all year long. It will be a fun rest of the year.”
The victory in the Stephen Foster, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In Classic Division” race, earned Olympiad a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the $6 million Longines Classic (GI), which is scheduled for Nov. 5 at Keeneland. Also, his connections will have all Breeders’ Cup pre-entry and entry fees covered and could receive a travel award up to $10,000.
Olympiad, at odds of 3-2, rewarded his backers with mutuels of $5, $3.40 and $2.60. Americanrevolution, with Luis Saez aboard, was second and returned $4 and $3.20 as the 7-2 third betting choice. Proxy, another 2 ¾ lengths back in third under Joel Rosario, paid $3.60 to show at odds of 11-1.
“He tried so hard this afternoon” Saez said of Americanrevolution. “The winner was simply the best, but he put in a run in multiple areas of the race. He just couldn’t quite match strides with Olympiad.”
Mandaloun flattened to fourth and was followed by Title Ready, Caddo River and Last Samurai.
“It was disappointing,” said Mandaloun’s jockey Florent Geroux. “We were expecting a big effort today. He never quite grabbed the bit around the turn.”
Olympiad is a son of Speightstown out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Tokyo Time and was bred by Emory A. Hamilton.
STEPHEN FOSTER QUOTES
Junior Alvarado, (jockey, Olympiad, winner) – “This horse has such a big stride on him and really extends it late in races. I think as he’s gotten older, he’s gotten faster in each start. Today we sat in a good position just off of the early pace and he showed how powerful his stride can be. I asked him just a little bit in the final furlong and he continued to get faster. He’s a great horse and has shown his talent all year long. It will be a fun rest of the year.”
Bill Mott (trainer, Olympiad, winner) – “I thought it was a very game win this afternoon. There were some nice horses in this field and I thought he did things rather easily. It was really nice to see him win like that. We’ve always thought about running him in the (Aug. 6) Whitney (GI) so I think that would be the next possible target.”
Kenny McCarthy (assistant trainer, Olympiad, winner) – “Bill Mott likes to have horses on win streaks, like Cigar. This horse has started one of his own and he’s been such a pleasure every time he’s run in our care in Kentucky. The whole team did a great job to get him back here and it’s very special to win the Stephen Foster again. He has such a big stride and it’s so powerful in the late stages of his races.”
Luis Saez, (jockey, Americanrevolution, runner-up) – “He tried so hard this afternoon. The winner was simply the best but he put in a run in multiple areas of the race. He just couldn’t quite match strides with Olympiad.”
Joel Rosario (jockey, Proxy, third) – “In every start he tries so hard. Today was the first time I was on him and he did just that. He kept running hard all race and I’m proud of the effort he gave me.”
Florent Geroux (jockey, Mandaloun, fourth) – “It was disappointing. We were expecting a big effort today. He never quite grabbed the bit around the turn.”
Churchill Downs Press Release
Photo by Coady Photography
