Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who won the Maker's 46 Mile (gr. IT)) on the Keeneland turf in his 2013 debut, breezed five furlongs in a bullet :59 3/5 over the main track April 24.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The connections of Pool Play figured last year the horse wouldn't race again because of a tendon injury, but given time and sharp training by Mark Casse, the horse has made it to the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Zayat Stables' Nehro, a dull sixth in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) in his last start, exited the race with an ankle chip and will miss about three months of training, the Zayat family said June 24.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Summer start will keep 5-year-old son of Full Mandate on track for Jockey Club Gold Cup, Breeders' Cup Classic plans.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Evan Hammonds recaps Ron The Greek in the Stephen Foster H., Royal Delta in the Fleur de Lis and more!
Images from the great racing on Stephen Foster Day 2012.
Ron the Greek, charging through the stretch along the inside, came from off the pace to nip odds-on favorite Wise Dan at the wire in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) under the lights at Churchill Downs June 16.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Handicapping the all-stakes pick 4 at Churchill Downs.
Tom LaMarra and Evan Hammonds handicap the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs this weekend.
Bill Farish Jr.'s Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) winner Pool Play has been diagnosed with a season-ending injury that will likely mark the end of his career, trainer Mark Casse confirmed July 21.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Making his dirt debut, and running in a grade I event for only the second time, Pool Play won the Stephen Foster to become a player in the older male division.
Proven on dirt after his 36-1 upset in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 18, synthetic track specialist Pool Play is aiming for similarly lucrative spots on his unaccustomed surface, trainer Mark Casse said.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Favorites, upsets, Arabians, and more defined Stephen Foster Day 2011.
William S. Farish Jr.'s Pool Play, making his first start on dirt in his 28th career start, pulled a 36-1 shocker in the $561,300 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 18 at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Jason, Tom and Steve from TwinSpires.com handicap the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Eleven are scheduled to compete in the grade I Stephen Foster. Can you predict the order of finish?
Nearly six months into the season, the handicap division is still looking for a clear-cut leader. With a breakout performance in the Stephen Foster Handicap June 18, there is an opportunity for someone to assume that role.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Night racing, disco, Rachel Alexandra, and Blame highlight Stephen Foster weekend.
Jason, Evan, and Les Instone of twinspires.com preview the Stephen Foster (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on June 12.
Blame will have no easy task against a proven field of 11 in the 1 1/8-mile Foster. His main challengers include last year's winner Macho Again, Arson Squad, General Quarters, as well as another emerging star, Battle Plan.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
With the connections of Rachel Alexandra undecided on which of four stakes in which she will run June 12, eight horses are probable and three are possible for the 29th running of the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap.
Monday, June 07, 2010
Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to make her next start June 12, with four different races, including the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) against males, under consideration.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
When the popular Downs After Dark nighttime racing program returns to Churchill Downs Friday, June 11, there will be a new twist.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Jason, Tom, and the Wizard analyze the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), June 13 at Churchill Downs.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Einstein, a leading candidate for 2009 Horse of the Year midway through the season, will try to make history by becoming the first horse to win grade I events on dirt, turf and synthetics in the same year in the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 13 at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Gainesway Thoroughbreds' Ocean Colors, a 2-year-old Orientate filly out of 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Winning Colors, made her racing debut one to remember June 13 at Churchill Downs by scoring a front-running 5 1/4-length victory in the fourth race
Friday, June 13, 2008
Churchill Downs will supplement the purse for the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) to $1 million if at least one grade I winner starts in the race.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Stonestreet Stable and Midnight Cry Stable's Curlin dazzled onlookers with a strong work at Churchill Downs June 2 as the reigning Horse of the Year tuned up for planned run in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 14.
Monday, June 02, 2008Following his win with Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), trainer Todd Pletcher has reloaded and sends out two horses, Master Command and Magna Graduate, who have big shots to take down Saturday's $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007A 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, 2007Immediately following the June 16 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville will host a happy hour with local "celebrity" bartenders. The event will support the Backside Learning Center and the Race for Education. Presented by the Equine Wellness Foundation to benefit horsemen's education, special guests will serve their favorite drinks.
Thursday, June 07, 2007The Equine Wellness Foundation will present a post-race "Happy Hour" following the June 16 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) in support of the Klein Family Learning Center and The Race for Education, the Kentucky Derby Museum announced June 7.
Thursday, June 07, 2007Fred Bradley's Brass Hat, winner of this year's Donn Handicap (gr. I) and New Orleans Handicap (gr. II), suffered an ankle injury in a Thursday workout that will sideline the 5-year-old gelding for an extended period of time and could end his career.
Friday, July 07, 2006The 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, 2006Last 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, 2006Buzzards Bay, authoritative winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) in his last start more than two months ago, takes on grade I winners Brass Hat and Perfect Drift in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Saturday.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006Aaron and Marie Jones' Master Command, winner of the William Donald Schaefer Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico most recently, will pass on an expected run in Saturday's $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006Brass Hat, winner of the Donn Handicap (gr. I) and runner-up in the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), and Buzzards Bay, winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II), were assigned high weight of 121 pounds apiece for Saturday's $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, June 11, 2006The 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, 2006Jay 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, 2006In an effort to boost participation in its stakes races, Churchill Downs announced Jan. 17 it would pay purse money to each participating horse in those contests--excluding the $2-million Kentucky Derby (gr. I)--beginning at the track's April 29-July 16 spring meet.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006Trainer 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, 2005Saint 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, 2005It's been a rough week for trainer Bobby Frankel. On Monday his 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper was retired due to injury, but things could improve dramatically by the weekend when he sends out Saint Liam and Badge of Silver in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005Barbara Cesare's Second of June, runner-up in the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II), has been knocked out of Saturday's Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs an ailment in the colt's left hind ankle.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005Mr. 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, 2005Lakeside 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, 2004Colonial 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, 2004Stonecrest 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"NTRA Super Saturday," five shows of horse racing coverage airing on ABC and ESPN, will make its debut Saturday on ESPN with a two-hour telecast (4:00-6:00 p.m. ET) featuring five graded stakes from four different race tracks with reporters stationed at each venue.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004