Reigning champion 3-year-old male Will Take Charge looms as the starting high weight in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (gr. I) June 14 after being assigned 123 pounds.
According to Churchill Downs racing officials, eight horses are probable and two are possible for the 1 1/8-mile race on the main track.
The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Will Take Charge will concede at least five pounds to his rivals in the Stephen Foster.
In addition to Will Take Charge, probable starters and their weight assignments are Departing (118), Moonshine Mullin (118); Revolutionary (118), Golden Ticket (117), Prayer for Relief (117); Long River (115) and Mylute (115),
Possible Stephen Foster starters include Bellarmine (115) and Carve (114).
The Stephen Foster is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race. The winner of the Foster will earn an automatic starting berth in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) in November at Santa Anita Park.
Also carded for June 14 at the Louisville track is the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Presented by Etihad Airways (gr. II) for fillies and mares. Anita Cauley's homebred local standout On Fire Baby is set to be the starting high weight at 122 pounds.
Other expected contenders in the Fleur de Lis (with assigned weight) include Flashy American (118), Molly Morgan (116), Ondine (116) and Frivolous (114).
The $100,000 Matt Winn (gr. III) also is featured on the June 14 program and six are listed as probable: Almost Famous, Cleburne, Conquest Titan; Tapiture ; The Admiral and Ulanbator.
