West Point Thoroughbreds' Macho Again found room off the turn and pulled away from a wall of horses to win the $660,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 13 at Churchill Downs. Einstein, seeking his third consecutive grade I score, finished third after a troubled trip.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Midnight Cry Stable's Einstein was assigned top weight of 124 pounds for the $600,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 13 at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Midnight Cry Stable's Einstein, runner-up to Curlin in last year's Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), topped a list of 20 nominees for this year's renewal, which will be run June 13 at Churchill Downs.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Churchill Downs will ask a state comission May 12 to cut seven race days from its 2009 spring meet; announces purse cuts.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Churchill Downs has unveiled a stakes schedule for its 2009 spring meet that is headed by the 135th renewals of the $2-million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). There will be 29 events with total purses of $7.575 million.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Following Curlin's dominant win in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 14, trainer Steve Asmussen says he's planning to work the reigning Horse of the Year over the Churchill Downs grass course while considering a bid in France's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I).
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin took the lead entering the stretch and rolled to an impressive 4 1/4-length victory in the $1-million Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Jockey Calvin Borel took off his 10 mounts at Churchill Downs on June 14, citing pain in his knee as the cause.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year and 3-5 morning line favorite for the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), schooled in the paddock at Churchill Downs following the fifth race June 12. He was accompanied by trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant trainer Scott Blasi.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
For Steve Asmussen, the perfect scenario in the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) goes something like this: clean break, good position, powerful move, and a romp home under wraps from Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year. But whether the trainer will get that result in the 1 1/8-mile test at Churchill Downs is another question.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Trainer Steve Asmussen was none too pleased with the 128-pound impost assigned to 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin for his expected bid in the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. Still, after a half-mile breeze in :49 seconds by the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner June 9, Asmussen indicated the horse would start in the 1 1/8-mile event.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Stonestreet Stable and Midnight Cry Stable's reigning Horse of the Year Curlin was assigned 128 pounds for the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Curlin, 2007 Horse of the Year and winner of the March 29 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), continued to train toward his return to competition May 26 with a strong six-furlong work at Churchill Downs.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Elisabeth Alexander's Magna Graduate, winner of last year's $200,000 Excelsior Handicap (gr. III), will look to break a seven-racing losing streak when he returns to the 1 1/8-mile event at Aqueduct April 5.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
S & S Stables' Silent Pleasure, coming off a narrow victory in the April 28 Texas Mile (gr. III), stretches out to 1 1/8 miles and looks to extend his four-race winning streak when he heads up a field of 10 as the 121-pound highweight in Saturday's running of the Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Prairie Meadows.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
A leg injury has taken Midnight Cry Stable's Einstein out of consideration for Saturday's $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Wednesday that television viewership for the first four shows of its "Road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships -- Powered by Dodge" was up 45% over last year's numbers.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
The morning after Seek Gold's stunning upset in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) was, in the words of trainer Ron Moquett, "surreal."
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Last at the top of the stretch, Seek Gold closed from out of the clouds to steal the $844,500 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) from Perfect Drift at the wire at odds of 91-1 at Churchill Downs Saturday.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
The second half of the Thoroughbred racing season kicks off June 17 with the first 2006 telecast of the Road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships – Powered by Dodge on ESPN from 5-7 p.m. (est).
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Fred Bradley's Brass Hat and Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, the local stars that could be the favorites for Saturday's 25th running of the $750,0000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, turned in their final major pre-race preps on Tuesday with training moves at Trackside Louisville training center.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
The Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) lost a major contender when trainer Todd Pletcher said that Elisabeth Alexander's Magna Graduate would miss the June 17 race after suffering an injury during a Sunday workout at Churchill Downs.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Jay Em Ess Stable's Suave, a disappointment at Gulfstream Park's winter meeting, is back in training for trainer Paul McGee at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Trainer Bobby Frankel couldn't have drawn up the running of Saturday's $828,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) any better for Saint Liam in his first start for the Hall of Fame conditioner. Saint Liam shook off pacesetter Presidentialaffair coming off the far turn and romped to a 2 3/4-length victory.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Saint Liam, the 8-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), was reacquainted with Churchill Downs' one-mile racing oval during a Friday morning gallop.
Friday, June 17, 2005
A well-matched group of eight 3-year-olds will go postward in Saturday's Jefferson Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT), the first of five graded stakes on the Churchill Downs' program.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren's Saint Liam, winner of the Donn Handicap (gr. I) and Clark Handicap (gr. II), has been assigned high weight of 121 pounds for next Saturday's $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
An impressive group of handicap runners headed by Saint Liam, Eddington, and Perfect Drift is included on a roster of 24 older horses nominated for the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs June 18.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
With the doubling of the purse for the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) to $2 million, the total value of purses in Churchill Downs' 2005 schedule of stakes races will reach a record $10 million.
Friday, January 07, 2005
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, winner of the 2003 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) and third to Colonial Colony in this year's renewal, is recovering from throat surgery to correct an entrapped epiglottis.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Lakeside Farm's Colonial Colony was reported to be doing well on the day after he shook the racing world with his stunning upset of favored Southern Image and an elite field in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 12 at Churchill Downs, but his trainer is worn out.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Colonial Colony, the longest shot in the field at odds of 62-1 with 12 losses in a row, prevailed in a thrilling stretch drive with favored Southern Image to capture the $810,750 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) by a nose Saturday at Churchill Downs on a sloppy track.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, an upset winner over eventual Horse of the Year Mineshaft in last year's running of the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), will face some of the toughest handicap rivals in American racing when he bids for a second consecutive victory in Saturday's $750,000-added event at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
William S. Farish's Midway Road will remain at Churchill Downs to participate in Saturday's 23rd running of the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I). The field is also expected to include Southern Image, Peace Rules, and Perfect Drift.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
A strong five-furlong work on Saturday by Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift has trainer Murray Johnson looking forward to the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 12, his gelding's bid for a second consecutive victory in Churchill Downs' premier race for older horses.
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Defending winner Perfect Drift, 2003 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Funny Cide, Pimlico Special (gr. I) victor Southern Image, and Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) hero Peace Rules head a stellar group of 21 horses nominated to the 23rd running of Churchill Downs' $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) on June 12.
Monday, May 31, 2004
Aldebaran, who finished third in the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, will shorten up from that race's nine-furlong distance when he competes in Friday's seven-furlong Tom Fool Handicap at Belmont.
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, who edged heavily favored Mineshaft in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), will get a little time to relax after the biggest win of his career. After that, the sky's the limit, says trainer Murray Johnson.
Sunday, June 15, 2003
Purses for Saturday's four stakes races that make up Churchill Downs' "Stephen Foster Super Saturday" card started out at $1.35 million, but they will soar considerably higher when the "added money" portion of the purses enter the mix.
Friday, June 13, 2003
Mineshaft's attempt at a fourth straight graded stakes win will begin from post 12 in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Friday, June 13, 2003
Grade I winners Aldebaran and Mineshaft expected to headline Saturday's contest at Churchill Downs, while Pat Day now has the mount on Perfect Drift.
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Expected Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) favorite Mineshaft turned in a spectacular work Tuesday, breezing five furlongs in :59.60 over a fast Churchill Downs track. The move under exercise rider Annie Finney came just after the regular break for track maintenance and was the fastest of 31 at that distance.
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
A pair of possible contenders for Saturday's main event, the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), turned in sizzling works on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, June 08, 2003
As Saturday's deadline for nominations to the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) draws closer, the possible field for the $750,000 race is becoming clearer. Among the horses who could start next in the June 14 race are Aldebaran, Full Mandate, Proud Citizen, and Tenpins.
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
Spain, the all-time leading female money earner, headlines Saturday's $300,000 Fleur De Lis Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs. The Fleur De Lis, along with the Regret (gr. II), and Northern Dancer Stakes, are part of the Stephen Foster Super Saturday. Post Time Saturday is 1:10 p.m., with the first stakes race, the Northern Dancer, scheduled to go off at 4:42 p.m., and the Stephen Foster (gr. I) post time at 4:42 p.m.
Tuesday, June 11, 2002
Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed that Stonerside Stable's Congaree would run in Saturday's $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs despite his top weight assignment of 121 pounds, where he'll concede from one to 11 pounds to the other probable starters.
Tuesday, June 11, 2002
Macho Uno, Congaree, and Unshaded are among those nominated to the June 15 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I).
Wednesday, June 05, 2002
Unshaded and Mike Pegram's Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Captain Steve highlight a likely field of eight to 10 of America's top older horses in the 20th running of the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. II), which will be the racing centerpiece of the first "Stephen Foster Super Saturday" at Churchill Downs.
Tuesday, June 12, 2001
The June 16 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. II) may have picked up two more starters when the connections of Da Devil and Connected declared their horses will likely be entered in the 1 1/8-mile Churchill Downs event.
Saturday, June 09, 2001
James Tafel's 4-year-old gelding Unshaded returned to the races Thursday for the first time since winning the Travers Stakes (gr. I) last August, winning a Churchill Downs allowance race by 1 1/2 lengths. Unshaded, who had been sidelined by a tendon injury, completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.11 under Robby Albarado.
Friday, May 18, 2001
