The stars of Saturday’s $2 million Stephen Foster (Grade I) have assembled beneath the Twin Spires as reigning Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Sovereignty, Grade I winner Baeza and Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) and Pegasus World Cup (GI) winner White Abarrio all took to the track Wednesday morning for their final preparations ahead of the summer’s biggest dirt showdown.
Godolphin’s Sovereignty and C R K Stable and Grandview Equine’s Baeza, both trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, arrived at Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning from Saratoga Race Course and trained for the first time over the Louisville oval Wednesday.
C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio arrived Monday from Gulfstream Park and jogged Tuesday before galloping Wednesday morning. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was on hand alongside family members and several members of the ownership group.
“It’s really exciting to be back here and we’re really looking forward to Saturday,” Joseph said. “The horse has settled in well and everything has gone according to plan.”
BloodHorse first reported Wednesday that Joseph’s other entrants, Forged Steel and Navajo Warrior, would not ship in for the race.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Dubai World Cup (GI) winner Magnitude, who has been based at Churchill Downs since returning from Dubai in late March, continued his preparations for the race and galloped at approximately 7:30 a.m. for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
“It’s an awesome race,” Asmussen said. “The stars of racing have assembled. Magnitude still has more to prove but I know he has a lot of confidence in himself by the way he’s prepared going into the race.”
Willy D’s, who’s based at Churchill Downs, is cross-entered in Saturday’s $250,000 Texas Turf Classic Stakes at Lone Star Park. Trainer Mike Maker said a decision is pending which spot he’ll run.
The 45th running of the Stephen Foster is led by 6-5 morning-line favorite Sovereignty. White Abarrio was installed as the 3-1 second choice, followed by Magnitude at 7-2 and Baeza at 6-1.
The complete field for the Stephen Foster from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning-line odds):
Willy D’s (Luis Saez, Mike Maker, 20-1)
White Abarrio (Irad Ortiz Jr., Joseph, 3-1)
Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado, Mott, 6-5)
Baeza (Flavien Prat, Mott, 6-1)
Magnitude (Jose Ortiz, Asmussen, 7-2)
Forged Steel (John Velazquez, Joseph, 12-1)
Navajo Warrior (Tyler Gaffalione, Joseph, 15-1)
First post for Saturday’s 12-race program is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). The Stephen Foster is scheduled as Race 11 at 6:14 p.m.
FOSTER IS A FEATHER IN ONE’S CAP – Four horses have 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 runners-up were crowned Horse of the Year: Mineshaft (2003) and Wise Dan (2012).
FOSTER STAKES RECORD IS 26 YEARS OLD – Canadian-bred Victory Gallop owns the Stephen Foster stakes record for 1 1/8 miles of 1:47.28 established in 1999 when he cruised to a five-length victory over Nite Dreamer, Littlebitlively and 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm. Victory Gallop’s time was a track record until last year when Gould’s Gold clocked 1:47.26 on May 17. The fastest 1 1/8 miles during this year’s Spring Meet is 1:48.80 by four-year-old Tiztastic on May 9.
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