WORLD-CLASS FIELD ASSEMBLES FOR $2M STEPHEN FOSTER

Stephen Foster Day stakes advances by Churchill Downs publicity staff (Coady Media/Margaret Burlingham photo above of Sovereignty galloping out after ast year’s Kentucky Derby. Alongside him is third-place Baeza, who also is running in Saturday’s G1 Foster.)

Horse of the Year Sovereignty, Dubai World Cup Winner Magnitude, Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner White Abarrio and Grade I Winner Baeza Headline Sport’s Premier ‘Summer Showdown’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, June 20, 2026) – The world’s top dirt horses are set to converge beneath the historic Twin Spires next Saturday when reigning Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner Sovereignty, Dubai World Cup (GI) winner Magnitude, Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) and Pegasus World Cup (GI) winner White Abarrio and Grade I winner Baeza headline the 45^th running of the $2 million Stephen Foster (GI) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster, which received a $1 million purse increase this year, will anchor a blockbuster 12-race program on the penultimate day of the Louisville track’s Spring Meet with seven stakes events cumulatively worth $4.1 million. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Stephen Foster scheduled as Race 11 at 6:14 p.m.

Along with the Stephen Foster, the afternoon’s stakes lineup includes the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (GII); $500,000 Wise Dan (GII); $275,000 Bango (GIII); $275,000 American Derby (Listed); $275,000 Anchorage (Listed); and $275,000 Tepin (Listed).

The Stephen Foster is led by Godolphin’s Sovereignty, who will make his first start beneath the Twin Spires since capturing last year’s Kentucky Derby. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Sovereignty went on to earn Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Male honors following victories in the Belmont Stakes (GI), Jim Dandy Stakes (GII) and Travers Stakes (GI). He began his 4-year-old season with a runner-up finish to White Abarrio in the Oaklawn Handicap (GII). Junior Alvarado has the mount from post No. 3.

Mott also entered C R K Stable and Grandview Equine’s Baeza, winner of last year’s Pennsylvania Derby (GI) who also was third in the 2025 Kentucky Derby for the late John Shirreffs. The 4-year-old son of McKinzie defeated Magnitude by 2 ¼ lengths in the Pennsylvania Derby and made his first start for Mott on Kentucky Oaks Day when he finished a troubled third in the Alysheba Stakes (GII), beaten three-quarters of a length. Jockey Flavien Prat will ride from post 4.

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude will make his first start since a victory in the Dubai World Cup (GI) in late March. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the son of Not This Time enters the Stephen Foster on a three-race winning streak that also includes victories in the Razorback Handicap (GIII) and Clark Stakes (GII).Jose Ortiz has the call from post 5.

White Abarrio will race at Churchill Downs for the first time since Kentucky Derby 148. The 7-year-old son of Race Day, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable, won the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2025 Pegasus World Cup. He enters the race off a two-length victory over Sovereignty in the Oaklawn Handicap. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 2.

Joseph also entered Hollywood Gold Cup (GII) winner Forged Steel and Pimlico Special (GIII) winner Navajo Warrior.

Forged Steel, owned by C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stable, dominated the Hollywood Gold Cup by 9 ½ lengths. The 4-year-old son of Vekoma has compiled a record of 18-5-3-3 with earnings of $416,130. John Vealzquez rides from post 6.

Navajo Warrior enters the Foster off a 2 ¾-length victory in the Pimlico Special. Owned by BAG Racing Stable, Miller Racing, Derek Paul, Mathis Stable, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch, the 5-year-old has won nine of 17 starts and earned $452,609. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 7.

The Stephen Foster field is rounded out by Paradise Farms Corp.’s seven-time winner Willy D’s. Now in his 5-year-old season for trainer Mike Maker, Willy D’s sports victories in the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (GIII) at Turfway Park and the Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn. Luis Saez will be in irons and break from the rail.

          The complete field for the Stephen Foster from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

• Willy D’s (Luis Saez, Mike Maker)
• White Abarrio (Irad Ortiz Jr., Joseph)
• Sovereignty (Alvarado, Mott)
• Baeza (Prat, Mott)
• Magnitude (Jose Ortiz, Asmussen)
• Forged Steel (John Velazquez, Joseph)
• Navajo Warrior (Gaffalione, Joseph)

The Stephen Foster will be part of a two-hour broadcast on NBCSN and Peacock in conjunction with FanDuel TV from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs ontwinspires.com. 

          Advanced wagering on the Stephen Foster Day card will begin Thursday. The 12-race program includes a trio of special wagers, all with a low 15% takeout: a $1 All-Stakes Turf Pick 4; a $3 All-Stakes Turf Pick 3; and a $5 Double encompassing the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis and Stephen Foster.

Both the Stephen Foster and Fleur de Lis are Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races, which means the winners are guaranteed a spot in the starting gate for the $7 million Longines Classic (GI) and $2 million Longines Distaff (GI), respectively, on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Also, the connections of both winners will have all Breeders’ Cup pre-entry and entry fees covered and could receive a travel award of up to $10,000. 

Four horses have used victories in the Stephen Foster as part of their resumés in Horse of the Year campaigns: Black Tie Affair (1991), Saint Liam (2005), Curlin (2008) and Gun Runner (2017). In addition, two Foster runners-up were crowned Horse of the Year: Mineshaft (2003) and Wise Dan (2012). 

For more information and to purchase tickets for Stephen Foster Day, please visit churchilldowns.com. 

GRADE I WINNER SHRED THE GNAR CLASHES WITH BREEDERS’ CUP WINNER SPLENDORA IN NEXT SATURDAY’S FASIG-TIPTON FLEUR DE LIS – Flying Dutchmen’s Fasig-Tipton La Troienne (Grade I) winner Shred the Gnar will return to action next Saturday and face a talented field of five fillies and mares, including Boyd Racing and By Talla Racing’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) winner Splendora, in the 51^st running of the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (GII) on Stephen Foster Day at Churchill Downs.

          Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Fleur de Lis will go as the seventh race with a post time of 4:04 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

          Shred the Gnar, trained by Brian Lynch, scored a one-length victory in the Fasig-Tipton La Troienne on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs. The talented daughter of Into Mischief sports an overall record of four wins from six starts, including a 2 ¾-length gate-to-wire score as a 3-year-old in the Chilukki (GIII) at Churchill Downs. Jockey Luis Saez has the mount from post No. 5.

          Splendora, trained by Bob Baffert is a two-time Grade I-winning daughter of Audible. Following her dominant 4 ¾-length victory in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, she won romped by 5 ¾ lengths in the Beholder Mile (GI) at Santa Anita. Splendora enters the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis off a 2 ¾-length score in the Shawnee Stakes (GII), the local prep for the race. Jockey Flavien Prat has the mount on Splendora from the rail.

          Immersive, the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly of 2024, is also entered.       

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

• Splendora (Prat, Baffert)
• Regaled (Tyler Gaffalione, Whit Beckman)
• Immersive (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox)
• In Just My Heels (Keith Asmussen, Ron Moquett)
• Shred the Gnar (Saez, Lynch)

MULTI-MILLIONAIRE TURF SPECIALIST LAGYNOS HEADLINES $500,000 WISE DAN – HRH Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s multiple graded stakes winner Lagynos leads an accomplished field of nine horses entered in next Saturday’s 37^th running of the $500,000 Wise Dan (Grade II), one of seven stakes events on Stephen Foster Day at Churchill Downs.

          Carded as Race 10 of 12 with a post time of 5:43 p.m., the Wise Dan will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

          The 5-year-old veteran Lagynos enters the Wise Dan with a solid 27-race resumé that includes victories in his last four races: the Fair Grounds Stakes (GIII); Muniz Memorial (GII); Opening Verse (Listed); and Arlington Stakes (GIII). Overall, Lagynos has recorded nine wins with purse earnings of more than $2.3 million. He’ll be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post No. 2.

          The field also includes last year’s winner Brilliant Berti. Trained by Cherie DeVaux for Richard Klein’s Klein Racing, Brilliant Berti scored a gutsy three-quarters of a length victory in last year’s running over Taking Candy and Lagynos. The 5-year-old son of Noble Mission (GB) hasn’t reached the winner’s circle since that race but finished third in the Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland and fourth in last month’s Arlington. Brian Hernadez Jr. has the mount from post 8.

          The field for the Wise Dan in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):

• Silent Heart (Luis Saez, Mike Maker)
• Lagynos (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen)
• Mercante (Florent Geroux, Brian Knippenberg)
• Chasing the Crown (Flavien Prat, Mike Maker)
• Flying Mohawk (Tyler Gaffalione, Whit Beckman)
• Dresden Row (Irad Ortiz Jr., Anthony Sciametta Jr.)
• Fort Washington (Junior Alvarado, Shug McGaughey III)
• Brilliant Berti (Hernandez, DeVaux)
• Beach Gold (Keith Asmussen, Patrick Biancone)

The race formerly known as the Firecracker was renamed in 2016 to honor Mort Fink’s two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who completed a spectacular racing career with a perfect four-race season in 2014. The Charlie LoPresti-trained gelding by Wiseman’s Ferry compiled a remarkable lifetime record of 23-2-0 in 31 races with earnings of $7,552,920 from 2010-14. He earned seven of those victories from his 11 starts at Churchill Downs, which included a pair of triumphs in the Firecracker that included his successful debut on the grass in its 2011 running and a hedge-skimming victory over yielding turf in a driving rain storm in 2013.

TOP SPRINTERS DR. VENKMAN, CORNUCOPIAN LEAD FIELD OF SEVEN IN $275,000 BANGO – Alipony Racing, Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch and James Hailey’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade I) third-place finisher Dr. Venkman is set to make his 6-year-old debut against a talented field of seven sprinters, including recent Aristides Stakes (GIII) winner Cornucopian, in next Saturday’s 16^th running of the $275,000 Bango Stakes (GIII) on Stephen Foster Day at Churchill Downs.

          Run at 6 ½ furlongs, the newly-named Bango Stakes will go as the afternoon’s ninth race with a post time of 5:08 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Dr. Venkman, trained by Mark Glatt, is set to invade from Santa Anita where he’ll make his seasonal bow in the Bango after closing his 5-year-old campaign with a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) at Del Mar. A son of Ghostzapper, Dr. Venkman finished second to Roll On Big Joe in this race last year before scoring a gritty half-length victory in the Pat O’Brien Stakes (GII) at Del Mar. Jockey Joel Rosario has the mount from post No. 6.

Among Dr. Venkman’s rivals in the race is Aristides winner Cornucopian. Owned by the conglomerate of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan and Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings-Lessee, Cornucopian brings an impressive seven-race resumé into the Bango with four wins including his 1 ¼-length victory in the Aristides and a 2 ¾-length score in the San Carlos Stakes (GIII) at Santa Anita. Jockey Flavien Prat will be in the irons from post 2.

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

• U Devil You (Axel Concepcion, Riley Mott)
• Cornucopian (Prat, Baffert)
• Harrodsburg (Luis Saez, Mike Tomlinson)
• Gold Sweep (Amir Mendoza, John Haran)
• Extra Anejo (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen)
• Dr. Venkman (Rosario, Glatt)
• Built (Irad Ortiz Jr., Wayne Catalano)

          The Bango Stakes was renamed this year in honor of Churchill Downs’ all-time winningest horse, who won this race in 2021 and 2023. Owned and bred by Fred and Debbie Schwartz’ Tamaroak Partners, Bango won a record 12 races beneath the historic Twin Spires for trainer Greg Foley. A son of Congrats, Bango’s career spanned 42 races while earning $1.6 million.

PENN MILE WINNER ALPYLAND LEADS FIELD IN $275,000 AMERICAN DERBY – D.J. Stable’s Penn Mile (Grade III) winner Alpyland returns to Churchill Downs and faces a field of nine 3-year-olds entered in next Saturday’s 111^th running of the $275,000 American Derby (Listed) on Stephen Foster Day.

          The American Derby, one of seven stakes on Saturday’s card, will go as the eighth race of 12 with a post time of 4:36 p.m. The race will kick off the afternoon’s coverage of Stephen Foster Day on NBCSN and Peacock. The broadcast also includes the $275,000 Bango (GIII), $500,000 Wise Dan (GII) and culminates with the featured $2 million Stephen Foster.

Trained by Mark Casse, Alpyland dominated last month’s Penn Mile by four lengths under Javier Castellano. Previously, the gelded son of Vekoma scored a two-length victory in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and a 1 ½-length win in the Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Casse tested Alpyland against Grade I company in the American Turf (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day but he faded late to finish fourth to Stark Contrast. Castellano returns for the mount from post No. 6

          The American Derby field also includes Sean Feld and Starry Night Racing’s Cutler Bay winner Immortalised (FR) and Jacob Pegram and Timothy Pegram’s stakes-winning California-invader Bust Out.

          The field for the American Derby in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):

• Immortalised (FR) (John Velazquez, Brendan Walsh)
• Prepped (Jose Ortiz, Cherie DeVaux)
• Fulmine (Cristian Torres, Norm Casse)
• Thousandsticks (Luis Saez, Brian Lynch)
• Serac (Jaime Torres, Nicholas Palmer)
• Alpyland (Javier Castellano, Mark Casse)
• Comport (Ben Curtis, Eddie Kenneally)
• Bust Out (Flavien Prat, Michael McCarthy)
• Brave Force (Tyler Gaffalione, Jack Sisterson)

PIN UP BETTY RETURNS TO DEFEND TITLE IN WIDE-OPEN FIELD OF 10 IN $275,000 ANCHORAGE – Three Diamonds Farm’s homebred Pin Up Betty will attempt to defend her title while facing a competitive group of 10 fillies and mares entered next Saturday’s fifth running of the $275,000 Anchorage Stakes (Listed) on Stephen Foster Day at Churchill Downs.

          The 1 1/8-mile Anchorage Stakes, run over the Matt Winn Turf Course, is part of a seven stakes on the blockbuster 12-race card. The Anchorage goes as Race 5 with a post time is 2:55 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

          Trained by Mike Maker, Pin Up Betty scored a three-quarters of a length victory in last year’s Anchorage over Duvet Day. A 5-year-old daughter of Constitution, Pin Up Betty has four wins from 23 starts, all of which have come at Churchill Downs including last year’s Old Forester Mint Julep (GIII). Jockey Flavien Prat has the mount from post No. 8.  

Among her challengers is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Gallorette Stakes (GIII) winner Warming;Andrew Schwartz and Wendy Gilder Schwartz’ The Very One (GIII) winner Just Basking; and Highlander Training Center’s Latonia Stakes (Listed) winner Stylish Sue.

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

• Warming (John Velazquez, Graham Motion)
• Unmerited Favor (Florent Geroux, Kenny McPeek)
• Way to Be Marie (Luis Saez, Eddie Kenneally)
• Settling Storm (Martin Garcia, Pavel Matejka)
• Tirupati (Tyler Gaffalione, Jonathan Thomas)
• Just Basking (Cristian Torres, Ian Wilkes)
• Footnote (Alexander Crispin, Marcelino Torres)
• Pin Up Betty (Prat, Maker)
• Vive Veuve (Irad Ortiz Jr., Joe Sharp)
• Stylish Sue (Jose Ortiz, Joe Sharp)

GRADE II WINNER GROUND SUPPORT SET FOR 3-YEAR-OLD DEBUT IN $275,000 TEPIN – NBS Stable’s Miss Grillo (Grade II) winner Ground Support is slated to make her first start as a 3-year-old where she’ll face 10 fellow 3-year-old fillies in the $275,000 Tepin Stakes (Listed) on Stephen Foster Day at Churchill Downs.

          Run at one mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course, the Tepin anchors the blockbuster 12-race card with a post time of 6:44 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

          Trained by Kelsey Danner, Ground Support scored a two-length victory at odds of 12-1 in the Miss Grillo during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. Following that start Danner sent Ground Support to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) where she finished a troubled third, defeated only 1 ¼ lengths to European invaders Balantina (IRE) and Pacific Mission (GB). Jockey Adam Beschizza, who’s been aboard Ground Support for all three of her starts, has the call in the Tepin from post No. 8.

          Other accomplished fillies entered in the race include Rigney Racing’s Edgewood (GII) runner-up Tam Tam; Summer Wind Equine’s Cleopatra Stakes winner How About Now; and Triton Thoroughbreds’ Cleopatra Stakes runner-up and recent local allowance winner Faye’s Gold.

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

• Mescat (Alexander Crispin, Marcelino Torres)
• Woodstock (Danny Sheehy, Joe Sharp)
• East Jabip (IRE) (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brian Lynch)
• Final Accord (Flavien Prat, Mark Casse)
• Faye’s Gold (Luis Saez, Grant Forster)
• Bohemian (Jose Ortiz, Joe Sharp)
• How About Now (Axel Concepcion, Rusty Arnold II)
• Ground Support (Beschizza, Danner)
• Tam Tam (Junior Alvarado, Phil Bauer)
• Use Me (IRE) (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
• Turner’s Charm (Ben Curtis, Brendan Walsh)

The Tepin Stakes honors the Churchill Downs-based Champion Female Turf Horse of 2015-16. Owned byRobert E. Masterson, trained by Mark Casse and mainly ridden by Julien Leparoux, Tepin defeated males in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) in 2015 after winning the Longines Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (GII) earlier that year. She successfully defended her Distaff Turf Mile title the following year before raiding the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Bernstein concluded her career later in 2016 with a second place finish to Tourist at Santa Anita in an attempt to repeat in the BC Mile. She retired with a record of 23-13-5-1—$4,437,918.