The Grade 2 Stephen Foster is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In†Challenge Series race. But its importance goes beyond merely sending its winner to the flagship $6 million Classic. This year’s Stephen Foster brings us what we need in racing: a good rivalry. In this case, that’s 2/1 […]
Tag: Stephen Foster
Mandaloun, Life Is Good, Speaker’s Corner Head Cross Country Pick 5
Last year’s Kentucky Derby champion, two of the most dynamic sprinters in the country, and a multiple Grade 1 winner looking for redemption headline this week’s New York Racing Association’s Cross Country Pick 5. This week’s Cross Country Pick 5 is an all-stakes sequence. The week’s races come from Belmont […]
Churchill Downs’ 2022 Stakes Schedule Includes Arlington Million
Churchill Downs announced a 2022 stakes schedule for its spring/summer meet featuring a record 53 stakes worth a record $20.37 million. But, it’s a special stakes race Aug. 13 that drew the attention of horse racing fans. The Arlington Million. Yes, that Arlington Million, the marquee race at the now-late Arlington […]
This Stephen Foster Tune Sounds Like Music to Maxfield’s Ears
There is Maxfield, looming over the rest of the Stephen Foster field like the 1,200-pound behemoth he is. And there’s Maxfield, running under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs like the dominant older horse he has become. Turning Maxfield loose at Churchill Downs has produced about as reliable an outcome […]
Record Churchill Downs Spring Meet Purses Come Up Roses
Churchill Downs released its Spring Meet stakes schedule on Monday, led of course, by the May 1 Kentucky Derby. But, along with America’s most famous horse race, come 39 other stakes races worth a track-record $13.44 million. Churchill Downs opens its nine-week spring season on April 24. The 38-day meet […]
Stephen Foster Composes Beautiful Front Line of Contenders
As marquee races go, this isn’t the Kentucky Derby. But you could do a lot worse than the Stephen Foster as the headline race of your meet, abbreviated and all. The Grade 2 Stephen Foster not only headlines Saturday’s strong 11-race, four-stakes card at Churchill Downs, it provides an enviable […]
Favored Tom’s d’Etat Not a Revolutionary Pick in the Stephen Foster
You can’t call what Tom’s d’Etat did in the Oaklawn Mile a coup d’etat, not when he was the 4/5 favorite. Nor can you call his previous two races revolutionary. All of which explains why Tom’s d’Etat is the even-money favorite for Saturday’s Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. The Grade […]