Stephen Foster Preview Day: A hit show featuring Hit Show!

May 23, 2026 Jennie Rees No Comments

Churchill Downs publicist Kevin Kerstein previews next Saturday’s seven-stakes Stephen Foster Preview Day (Dubai Racing Club photo of Hit Show winning the 2025 Dubai World Cup)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, May 23, 2026) – Wathnan Racing’s 2025 Dubai World Cup (Grade I) winner Hit Show returns to Churchill Downs to headline a field of eight older horses entered in next Saturday’s seventh running of the $300,000 Blame Stakes (GIII), one of seven stakes on Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Blame serves as the local prep to the $2 million Stephen Foster (GI) on Saturday, June 27. Carded as Race 10 of 11, the Blame field will go to post at 5:28 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

The blockbuster Saturday card also includes the $300,000 Shawnee (GII); $275,000 Aristides (GIII); $275,000 Arlington (GIII); $275,000 Old Forester Mint Julep (GIII); $275,000 Regret (GIII); and $275,000 Audubon (Listed).

Trained by Brad Cox, Hit Show most recently finished fifth in his attempt to repeat in the Dubai World Cup. His 25-race resumé includes eight graded stakes victories led by his half-length score two years ago in the Dubai World Cup. A 6-year-old son of Candy Ride (ARG), Hit Show finished fifth in last year’s Stephen Foster. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount in Saturday’s Blame from post No. 3.

The Blame field also includes Repole Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Stables, Woodford Racing,Lane’s End and Patrick McGee’s recent dominant allowance winner Vibe and Saraf Mohammed Al Hariri and Lucky Seven Stable’s 2023 Blame winner Rattle N Roll.

*Vibe winning an allowance race on the Derby undercard. Coady Media/Kurtis Coady*

The complete lineup for the Blame from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Rattle N Roll (Flavien Prat, Kenny McPeek)
Hall of Fame (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen)
Hit Show (Irad Ortiz Jr., Cox)
Capital Idea (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott)
Who Dey (Brian Hernandez Jr., Tommy Drury Jr.)
Original Sin (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
Liberal Arts (Reynier Arrieta, Heather Iron)
Vibe (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher)

Fans can watch and wager on all the action at Churchill Downs on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

THREE-TIME GRADE I WINNER IMMERSIVE LEADS $300,000 SHAWNEE – Godolphin’s three-time Grade I winner and 2024 Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Immersive leads seven fillies and mares entered in next Saturday’s seventh running of the $300,000 Shawnee, the local prep to the June 27 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (GII) at Churchill Downs.

*Immersive winning the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. Benoit Photo*

The 1 1/16-mile Shawnee, carded as Race 6 at 3:19 p.m. (all times Eastern), is one of seven stakes on the 11-race Stephen Foster Preview Day program. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Brad Cox, Immersive had a dominant 2-year-old campaign with victories in the Spinaway (GI), Alcibiades (GI) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI). The daughter of Nyquist returned in the summer of her 3-year-old season with runner-up finishes in the Monomoy Girl Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) before returning to the winner’s circle in the Seneca Overnight Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs. To start her 4-year-old season, Immersive finished second to Grammy Girl in the Distaff Stakes (GIII) at Aqueduct. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount in the Shawnee from post No. 7.

Another Breeders’ Cup winner entered in the race is Boyd Racing and By Talla Racing’s Splendora. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Splendora scored a 4 ¾-length dominant victory in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (GI) at Del Mar. Her 13-race career also includes victories in the Beholder Mile (GI) and D. Wayne Lukas (GII) at Santa Anita. Flavien Prat has the mount from post 5.

Also entered in the race is Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Sheila Regan, Agave Racing Stable and Sublime Racing’s Majestic Oops, who will make her first start in the care of trainer Phil D’Amato after being transferred from Dan Ward. While in Ward’s care during her 5-year-old season, Majestic Oops was a gutsy three-quarter of a length winner of the Azeri Stakes (GII) and 3 ¼-length victor of the American Beauty (Listed) at Oaklawn. The California-bred daughter of Majestic Harbor has earned more than $1 million in purses in a well-traveled career that includes victories at Sacramento, Golden Gate Fields, Century Mile, Monmouth Park and Oaklawn. She’ll be ridden in Saturday’s race by Francisco Arrieta from post 4.

The field for the Shawnee from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Gin Gin (Luis Saez, Brendan Walsh)
Take Charge Omaha (Mario Gutierrez, Matt Sims)
Miss Justify (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
Majestic Oops (Arrieta, D’Amato)
Splendora (Prat, Baffert)
Too Much Kiki (Jose Ortiz, Bret Calhoun)
Immersive (Irad Ortiz Jr., Cox)

DURANTE SET TO DEFEND TITLE IN $275,000 ARISTIDES – David Jacobson’s accomplished sprinter Durante returns to defend his title in next Saturday’s $275,000 Aristides Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs, one of seven stakes on Stephen Foster Preview Day.

Run at six furlongs, the Aristides serves as the local prep to the newly named $275,000 Bango (GIII) on Saturday, June 27. The Aristides field will go to post in Race 8 at 4:25 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

*Durante and jockey Jose Ortiz after winning last year’s Aristides. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount next Saturday. Coady Media/Julie Clarke*

Durante, who’s trained by his owner Jacobson, has an impressive 48-race resumé with 11 victories and earnings of more than $1.2 million. The 7-year-old son of Distorted Humor scored a 33-1 upset victory over World Record in last year’s Aristides Stakes. Following that performance, Durante didn’t find the winner’s circle until two weeks ago when he scored a neck victory in the John A. Nerud Stakes (GIII) at Aqueduct. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount in the Aristides and will exit post No. 4.

Durante will take on several accomplished sprinters in the field including the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Cornucopian and Madaket Road.

Owned by the powerhouse partnership group SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, et. al., Cornucopian won the San Carlos Stakes (GIII) two months ago at Santa Anita while stablemate Madaket Road recently cruised to an allowance victory at Churchill Downs. Cornucopian exits post 2 with Flavien Prat while Madaket Road drew post 6 with Irad Ortiz Jr.

Another talented sprinter in the field is multiple graded stakes winner Roll On Big Joe. Owned in partnership by Rancho Temescal, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence and Richard Hale Jr., Roll On Big Joe was a hard-fought winner of last year’s Kelly’s Landing (GIII) and Bet On Sunshine (Listed) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Bob Hess Jr., Roll On Big Joe began his 6-year-old season at Oaklawn with a victory in the King Cotton (Listed) and runner-up to fellow Aristides rival Mad House in the Count Fleet Turf Sprint (GIII). Jockey Julien Leparoux will be in the irons Saturday from post 3.

The field for the Aristides from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Mad House (Paco Lopez, David VanWinkle)
Cornucopian (Prat, Baffert)
Roll On Big Joe (Leparoux, Hess)
Durante (Gaffalione, Jacobson)
Tejano Twist (Francisco Arrieta, Chris Hartman)
Madaket Road (Irad Ortiz Jr., Baffert)
Gold Sweep (Jose Ortiz, John Haran)

The Aristides is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Dirt Dozen where the top three nominated finishers will receive partial entry fees paid to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER LAGYNOS LEADS ULTRA-COMPETITIVE 90^TH RUNNING OF $275,000 ARLINGTON STAKES – HRH Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s eight-time winner Lagynos headlines an ultra-competitive field of 11 horses entered in next Saturday’s 90^th running of the $275,000 Arlington Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

*Lagynos galloping out after winning Kentucky Downs’ Keeneland Sales Tapit Stakes last year. Coady Media/Renee Torbit*

The Arlington Stakes, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the finale on the 11-race Stephen Foster Preview Day program. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Arlington field going to post at 5:59 p.m.

Lagynos will attempt to turn the tables on Mercante and Brilliant Berti in this year’s Arlington Stakes after finishing a fast-closing third behind the duo in last year’s edition. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Lagynos earned more than $2.2 million from 26 starts, highlighted by victories in the Muniz Memorial (GII), Commonwealth Turf (GIII), Fair Grounds Stakes (GIII), Opening Verse (Listed) and Tapit Stakes (Listed). JockeyJose Ortiz has the call from post No. 3.

Mercante will attempt to defend his title in the race for owner/breeder Carl Pollard. Trained by Brian Knippenberg, the now 6-year-old gelded son of Gun Runner has five victories from 19 starts including last year’s TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (GIII) at Turfway Park and Arlington Stakes. Joe Ramos has the mount from post 7.

*Mercante winning last year’s Arlington Stakes. He’ll defend his title against last year’s runner-up Brilliant Berti and third-place Lagynos. Coady Media*

Other accomplished horses entered in the race include Klein Racing’s seven-time winner Brilliant Berti; Rocker O Ranch’s Grade II winner Giocoso; OXO Equine’s Grade II winner Minaret Station; Saint George’s six-time winner Quatrocento; and Norman Stables’ Kentucky Derby 151 alum Coal Battle, who’s set to return to turf for the first time since 2024.

The complete lineup for the Arlington Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

West Hollywood (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox)
Anglophile (Declan Cannon, Brian Lynch)
Lagynos (Jose Ortiz, Asmussen)
Beach Gold (Keith Asmussen, Patrick Biancone)
Giocoso (Luis Saez, Keith Desormeaux)
Minaret Station (Cristian Torres, Will Walden)
Mercante (Ramos, Knippenberg)
Mesero (Junior Alvarado, Dale Romans)
Quatrocento (Julien Leparoux, Fausto Gutierrez)
Brilliant Berti (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux)
Coal Battle (Corey Lanerie, Lonnie Briley)

The Arlington Stakes serves as the local prep to the $500,000 Wise Dan (GII) on Saturday, June 27.

PIN UP BETTY RETURNS TO DEFEND TITLE IN $275,000 OLD FORESTER MINT JULEP – Three Diamonds Farm’s talented homebred Pin Up Betty is set to defend her title against seven rivals in next Saturday’s 50^th running of the Old Forester Mint Julep (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

The Old Forester Mint Julep, run at 1 1/16 miles on turf, is part of a blockbuster 11-race program that includes seven stakes contests. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Old Forester Mint Julep going as Race 7 at 3:53 p.m.

*Pin Up Betty winning last year’s Old Forester Mint Julep. Coady Media*/John Gallagher

Trained by Mike Maker, Pin Up Betty rallied for a 1 ½-length victory in last year’s race under jockey Luis Saez. The 5-year-old mare’s career has spanned 22 races with four wins, six runner-up finishes, two thirds and more than $1 million in earnings. She’ll be ridden by Flavien Prat in Saturday’s race from post No. 3.

Another accomplished mare in the field is C R K Stable’s six-time winner Medoro. Trained by Peter Eurton, Medoro has finished outside the top 3 one time in her 15-race career. The daughter of Honor Code scored a quartet of stakes victories with Eurton’s string in Southern California. Medoro began her Midwest campaign in January with a victory in the Marie G. Kranz Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds and then finished third in last month’s Jenny Wiley (GI) at Keeneland. Jockey Jose Ortiz has the mount in the Old Forester Mint Julep and will exit from post 4.

The field for the Old Forester Mint Julep in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):

Charlene’s Dream (Florent Geroux, Ed Moger Jr.)
Favorite Memory (GB) (John Velazquez, Cherie DeVaux)
Pin Up Betty (Prat, Maker)
Medoro (Jose Ortiz, Eurton)
Proctor Street (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
Vina Arana (IRE) (Adam Beschizza, Jack Sisterson)
In the Stars (Luis Saez, Rusty Arnold II)
Sweet Treasure (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox)
Stylish Sue (Jaime Torres, Joe Sharp)

The Old Forester Mint Julep serves as the local prep for the $275,000 Anchorage (Listed) on Saturday, June 27.

GRADE II WINNER STORM’S WAKE TOPS WIDE-OPEN FIELD IN $275,000 REGRET – Will Werner’s Grade II winner Storm’s Wake leads a wide-open cast of nine 3-year-old fillies entered in next Saturday’s 57^thrunning of the $275,000 Regret Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

Storm’s Wake winning Keeneland’s G2 Appalachian under Joel Rosario. She’ll be ridden by Luis Saez in the Regret. Coady Media/John Gallagher

The Regret, run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, is part of Stephen Foster Preview Day with seven stakes cumulatively worth $1.975 million in purses. First post for the 11-race program is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Regret going as Race 9 at 4:56 p.m.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Storm’s Wake went last-to-first in the April 4 Appalachian (GII) at Keeneland. The daughter of the former Lynch-trained Oscar Performance has three wins in her eight-race career while banking $478,725 in purses. She’ll be ridden in Saturday’s race by Luis Saez from post No. 8.

Also entered in the race is Rigney Racing’s Tam Tam, who most recently finished second to Imaginationthelady in the Edgewood Stakes (GII) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Phil Bauer, Tam Tam won the Sanibel Island Stakes (Listed) on March 28 at Gulfstream Park prior to her runner-up effort in the Edgewood. She’ll once again have the riding services of Junior Alvarado and break from post 9.

The field for the Regret from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Indigo Woods (IRE) (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
Surprise Ending (Ben Curtis, Brendan Walsh)
Trust Account (Flavien Prat, Brendan Walsh)
Lilo Lil (John Velazquez, Michael McCarthy)
Faithful Departed (Jose Ortiz, Grant Forster)
Dandona (Irad Ortiz Jr., Saffie Joseph Jr.)
Call On Me (Axel Concepcion, Rusty Arnold II)
Storm’s Wake (Saez, Lynch)
Tam Tam (Alvarado, Bauer)

TOUCH OF FIRE SEEKS FIRST STAKES VICTORY IN $275,000 AUDUBON – Juddmonte’s lightly-raced 3-year-old Touch of Fire will seek his first stakes victory against nine rivals in next Saturday’s seventh running of the $275,000 Audubon Stakes (Listed) on Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs.

*Touch of Fire winning an April 10 allowance race at Keeneland under Irad Ortiz. Coady Media*

Contested at 1 1/8 miles on turf, the Audubon Stakes will go as Race 5 of 11 with a post time of 2:47 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Brad Cox, Touch of Fire debuted on Jan. 8 at Fair Grounds with a dominant seven-length victory against eight rivals on turf. Following a disappointing runner-up finish to Black Hornet as the 2-5 favorite in the Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds, Touch of Fire scored a one-length allowance victory as the even-money favorite at Keeneland. He’ll be ridden in Saturday’s race by leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. out of post No. 7.

The field for the Audubon Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):