This time of year brings thoughts of a great fireworks display. We are not talking about cousin Jethro and his Roman candle trick. We mean a real display with flowering lights and big explosions. If you want to see a real show, look no further than Stephen Foster Saturday at Churchill Downs on June 29.
The Stephen Foster has long been a race for top older horses and has become the centerpiece for a great day of racing at historic Churchill Downs. Inaugurated in 1982 and named in honor of the composer of “My Old Kentucky Home”, this grade 1 event will again light up the sky in 2024. Let’s take a quick look at what this day offers the fans of the Thoroughbred racing game.
Six races with big fields precede, but the Stakes show starts in race 7 with the grade 2 Wise Dan. Previously known as “The Firecracker”, this tussle on turf features a talented six horse field that includes European based Ottoman Fleet and West-coast shipper Exaulted. This one should go off with a bang.
The Grade 2 Fleur de Lis for older fillies and mares will be next on the card. Like a box of Hades a-Crackin, this mile and an eighth drive over the Kentucky dirt will get you jumping. Six talented runners will contest with the Bill Mott-trained Scyllia facing the likes of Shotgun Hottie and Xigera.
The American Derby at a mile and a sixteenth for three-year old males will be better than a bunch of bottle rockets. Run on turf, this eight-horse field features the talented First World War trained by Brendan Walsh, along with invaders Agate Road and Moonlight for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Race 10 could be the Saturn Missel brigade of the day as the six and a half furlong Kelly’s Landing offers some screaming sprinters. Eight fleet-footed older males go to post with promise of an adrenaline rush finish. Hoist the Gold for trainer Dallas Stewart might be the speed of the speed, but veterans Tejano Twist and Bango will be there too. And don’t forget ClosethegameSugar or West-coast invader Anarchist for trainer Doug O’Neill. This one should be a good one.
The big boy Stephen Foster follows with promise of a multi-mortar display. Offering a purse of $1 million and a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, as usual it has brought some talent to the track. First Mission for trainer Brad Cox will be looking for his first grade 1 win and likely will be favored as he comes in off two consecutive wins. The other eight, however, features the likes of graded stakes winners Pyrenees ( 3 for 3 in 2024), Kingsbarns ( 2 wins and a second in 2024), Classic Causeway (graded Stakes wins on dirt and turf), and Skippylongstocking (2 stakes wins in 2024).
The show-closer and grand finale promises to be just that. Eleven grass-going girls will contest the Tepin Stakes. These talented three-year-old fillies will travel a mile and a sixteenth on turf with eyes on their share of $250,000. Poolside with Slim, Pipsy, Mo Fox Givin, and Dancing N Dixie are just some of the contenders in this brigade of smoke bombs.
First post on June 29 is slated for 12:45 eastern with the Foster scheduled for 6:05 eastern. Enjoy the show.
