Weekend Lineup: Churchill Closes Out Spring Meet With Pair Of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races

Nine graded stakes will be contested in North America on Saturday. Churchill Downs closes its spring meeting with a card of seven stakes races featuring the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis for fillies and mares, led by Letruska, and Grade 2 Stephen Foster for older horses, headlined by Maxfield. Winners of both races earn automatic starting berths into the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff and the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, respectively.

Thistledown hosts the Grade 3 Ohio Derby for 3-year-olds, and Grade 1 Steeplechase action will take place outside Nashville with the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Full previews, when available, can be found through the link for each race.

TVG will be broadcasting racing throughout the weekend from Monmouth Park and Gulfstream Park, and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will be broadcasting live on Saturday, June 26 on FS2 from 12:30-6:30 p.m., and on SNY from 5-6:30 p.m., from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs. On Sunday, June 27, America's Day at the Races will be live on FS2 from 12:30-5:30 p.m., and on SNY from 5-5:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 26

2:45 p.m. ― $300,000 Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on FS2

Five fillies and mares are challenging two-time Grade 1 winner Letruska in the Grade 2, $300,000 Fleur de Lis at 1 1/8 miles, “Win and You're In” for the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar. St. George Stable's 5-year-old Letruska gained a national reputation after defeating Monomoy Girl, the reigning older female dirt champion, in Oaklawn's Grade 1 Apple Blossom in April. She collared her second Grade 1 by taking the Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 5, and secured an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska will break from post 6 under Jose Ortiz. Walking Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farms' 4-year-old Envoutante, trained by Ken McPeek, finished just a length behind Shedaresthedevil in the Grade 1 La Troienne on April 30, came back and won the listed Shawnee Stakes over the Churchill strip on May 29. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the call from post 4. Robert and Lawana Low's 4-year-old Spice Is Nice won the Grade 3 Allaire DuPont Match Series Stakes on May 14 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. She will break from post 5 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD062621USA5-EQB.html

4:30 p.m. – $100,000 Grade 3 Trillium Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Live Oak Plantation's Souper Escape is the defending champion and 2-1 morning line favorite in an eight-horse field of fillies and mares for the Grade 3 Trillium Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on Woodbine's all-weather track. A Florida homebred by Medaglia d'Oro, trained by Michael Trombetta, Souper Escape, making her 2021 debut, has won six races. She took the Grade 3 Seaway at Woodbine last August following his frontrunning 4 ½-length win in the Trillium. Luis Contreras has the mount from post 2. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has entered three runners in Heavenly Curlin, Skygaze and Crystal Glacier. Heavenly Curlin, ridden by Emma-Jane Wilson from post 8, is two for two at Woodbine, including last year's Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO062621CAN7-EQB.html

4:40 p.m.―$250,000 Grade 2 Mother Goose at Belmont Park on FS2 and SNY

A 9 ¾-length romp in just her second start has made Three Chimneys Farm's Always Carina the even-money morning line favorite for the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile Mother Goose for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont. Trained by Chad Brown, Always Carina broke her maiden at Aqueduct in March and then dominated an optional allowance claiming race at 1 mile on May 10. The bay daughter of Malibu Moon will be ridden from post 2 by Flavien Prat. Stonestreet Stables' Clairiere, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden from post 3 by Irad Ortiz Jr., won the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds in February, and will try to get back into the winner's circle after a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks and a fourth in the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks. Gary Barber's Make Mischief has won three of six this year and is looking to break through with her first stakes win following a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Acorn on June 5 at Belmont.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL062621USA8-EQB.html

4:55 p.m. ― $150,000 Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

A field of 11, including one filly, is set for North America's first graded stakes race of the year for 2-year-olds in the 120th Bashford Manor Stakes, a Grade 3 event run at 6 furlongs at Churchill Downs. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has won the Bashford Manor a record six times. On Saturday, he sends out Winchell Thoroughbreds Red Run, a chestnut son Gun Runner, who Asmussen trained to the 2017 Horse of the Year title. On May 9 at Churchill, Red Run took the lead in the stretch of a 5-furlong maiden race and won by 1 ¾ lengths. Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride, breaking from post 9. Asmussen has also entered Willis Horton Racing's Canadian-bred Lansdowne, who on May 22 went to the front early in a 5-furlongs maiden race at Churchill and won by 1 ½ lengths. The gray/roan son of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver will be ridden by Jon Court from post 2. Another gray entered is Robert Masterson's Glacial, a son of Frosted, trained by Norm Casse, who broke his maiden May 29 on debut by 2 ½ lengths in a 5 ½-furlong race at Churchill. Joe Talamo has the mount breaking from post 4. The lone filly is John, Ken and Ennis Dodsworth's Shesgotattitude, a daughter of Tiznow, trained by John Ennis. Shesgotattitude broke her maiden against fillies on April 8 at Keeneland and then finished fourth against males in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill on April 28. James Graham will ride from post 11.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD062621USA9-EQB.html

5:04 p.m. ―$500,000 Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on TVG

A wide-open field of 11 3-year-olds has been entered for the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile Ohio Derby at Thistledown, with the Todd Pletcher-trained Promise Keeper the 7-2 morning line favorite. Owned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm and Rock Ridge Racing, Promise Keeper, a son of Constitution, has won three of five starts, including his last out in the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Belmont Park on May 8. Luis Saez has the mount from post 1. Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury is making his first start since winning Keeneland's Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes by 2 ¾ lengths at 18-1 on April 10. The chestnut son of Curlin, trained by Kenny McPeek, will be ridden by Corey Lanerie from post 4. Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith and Spendthrift Farm's Keepmeinmind, trained by Robert Diodoro, won last year's Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club. This year, the son of the late Laoban finished seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and fourth in the Grade 1 Preakness. David Cohen has the mount from post 8. Godolphin's Proxy, trained by Mike Stidham, finished second in the Grade 2 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds in March. Joe Bravo will ride the son of Tapit from post 9.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TDN062621USA9-EQB.html

5:26 p.m. ― $300,000 Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable's 5-year-old New York-bred Somelikeithotbrown, a two-time Grade 2 winner, and Juddmonte's Set Piece (GB), lead a 10-horse field in the Grade 2, $300,000 Wise Dan Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the Churchill turf course. Trained by Mike Maker and ridden from post 3 by Jose Ortiz, Somelikeithotbrown scored a 1-length victory in the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico on May 15. The bay son of Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown has won seven races, including last year's Grade 2 Bernard Baruch at Saratoga. The Brad Cox-trained 5-year-old gelding Set Piece has taken a liking to the Churchill turf course this spring with black type wins in the Opening Verse on April 29 and the Douglas Park on May 29. Florent Geroux has the mount from post 1. Maker has also entered Three Diamonds Farm's Maryland-bred 4-year-old Field Pass, fourth in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland on April 9, but trailed a field of eight in the Grade 1 Man o' War at Belmont on May 8. Ricardo Santana Jr. rides from post 8. John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm's 6-year-old Ride a Comet won the Grade 3 Tropical Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January and was second in the Maker's Mark Mile. A bay son of Candy Ride (ARG), Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Ride a Comet from post 7.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD062621USA10-EQB.html

5:30 p.m. ― $100,000 Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes at Percy Warner Park on NSA.com

Riding an eight-race winning streak, Bruton Street's 7-year-old gelding Snap Decision leads a seven-horse field of Steeplechase runners in the 80th running of the Grade 1, 2 ¾-mile Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes over hurdles at Percy Warner Park outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Snap Decision, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden Graham Watters, romped by 9 ½ lengths in the Grade 2 Temple Gwathmey Stakes at Middleburg, Virginia, in his seasonal debut, defeating Irvin Naylor's Amschel (GB), Hudson River Farm's Galway Kid (IRE), and Sonny Via's Footpad (FR), all of whom are entered in the Iroquois. Footpad, also trained by Fisher, and ridden by Sean McDermott, has won 11 of 27 races and more than $900,000. Galway Kid is exiting a hard-fought neck victory in the Grade 3 David Semmes Memorial hurdle stakes (Grade 3) at the Virginia Gold Cup Races, in which Naylor's 8-year-old gelding Bedrock finished third.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PW062621USA7-EQB.html

5:59 p.m. – $600,000 Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on FS2

Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfield, a winner in six of seven starts, leads nine horses entered in the $600,000 Grade 2 Stephen Foster going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs. Returning twice from setbacks over the course of two years in which he won his first six starts ― including victories in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and the Grade 3 Mineshaft Stakes ― Maxfield suffered his first defeat when finishing third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March. However, the dark bay son of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense rebounded on April 30 with a sharp 3 ¼-length victory in Churchill's Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes. Jose Ortiz will ride Maxfield from post 8. Tom Durant's 7-year-old gelding Silver Dust, has won seven races for trainer Bret Calhoun, including the April 10 Grade 2 Ben Ali at Keeneland. Adam Beschizza has the mount from post 4. The Estate of James J. Coleman Jr.'s Virginia-bred Chess Chief, third in the Alysheba Stakes, won the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic Stakes at the Fair Grounds in March. Trained by Dallas Stewart, Chess Chief will be ridden by John Velazquez from post 1. The Stephen Foster winner will gain an automatic berth into the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD062621USA11-EQB.html

7:13 p.m. ― $100,000 Grade 3 Chicago Stakes at Arlington Park on TVG

Full of Fun Racing and Madaket Stables' Dreamalildreamofyou leads 11 fillies and mares entered in Arlington's 7-furlong Grade 3 Chicago Stakes. A 4-year-old daughter of Commissioner, trained by Brad Cox, Dreamalildramofyou has won four of nine starts, and was recently second in the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile Allaire DuPont Distaff Match Series Stakes at Pimlico on May 14. Fernando De La Cruz rides from post 11. Michael and Katherine Ball's Club Car, trained by Ben Colebrook, won an optional allowance claiming race at Keeneland on April 11 and then finished third in Pimlico's listed 6-furlong Skipat Stakes on May 15. Club Car will be ridden by Chris Emigh from post 6.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AP062621USA8-EQB.html

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Big Field Set for Bashford Manor

A wide-open field of 11 juveniles, including one filly, will line up for Saturday's GIII Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs.

The 3-1 morning-line favorite Glacial (Frosted) dueled free after a slow start to post a 2 1/2-length debut victory over the stakes-placed maiden Vodka N Water (Fed Biz) beneath the Twin Spires May 29. The $140,000 OBSMAR graduate, produced by an unraced half-sister to GISW Cupid (Tapit), is trained by Norm Casse.

Lansdowne (Super Saver), a half-brother to MGISW Midnight Lucky (Midnight Lute), led by five lengths at the stretch call en route to a front-running, 1 1/2-length debut victory for Dallas Stewart at Churchill May 22.

Winchell homebred Red Run (Gun Runner) became the first winner for his highly regarded freshman sire with a three-wide rally on debut in the Churchill slop May 9. Red Run is the first foal out of an unraced full-sister to champion 3-year-old filly and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Untapable (Tapit).

Double Thunder (Super Saver) posted a field-best 60 Beyer Speed Figure for Todd Pletcher in a debut victory at Monmouth June 5.

Keeneland debut winner Shesgotattitude (Tiznow), drawn widest of all in post 11, takes on the boys for a second straight time for John Ennis following a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Juvenile S. in the slop Apr. 28.

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Letruska Blooming Ahead of Fleur de Lis

St. George Stable LLC's Letruska (Super Saver) has proven near invincible since turning five and will try to add her sixth graded victory in Saturday's GII Fleur De Lis S. at Churchill Downs, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar this fall. Winner of last summer's nine-furlong GIII Suvee S., the bay later kicked off a two-race win skein when taking Gulfstream's GIII Rampart S. Dec. 12 before adding the Jan. 31 GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. A desperate head behind GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in the Mar. 13 GII Azeri S., she came right back to nose out dual champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and third-place finisher GI Preakness S. heroine Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 17. Avenging her Azeri loss, she bounced home an easy winner over Bonny South (Munnings) with Shedaresthedevil back in third.

“She's in a good condition to run,” said trainer Fausto Gutierrez. “This is a very important race. We're going step by step for now and this is next race we had in mind. I know it's just 21 days from the [Ogden Phipps]. When a horse wants to run and they're ready to run, we have to let them run. She's at Keeneland training and we're looking forward to getting her to Churchill.”

Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Envoutante (Uncle Mo) will try to punch her own ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Saturday. Winner of the GIII Remington Park Oaks and GII Falls City S. last term, she was fourth in the Azeri before finishing second to Shedaresthedevil in the Apr. 30 GI La Troienne S. Most recently, the dark bay strolled home a facile 4 1/4-length winner in Churchill's Shawnee S. May 29.

Robert and Lawana Low's Spice Is Nice (Curlin) has shown mixed form since her sparkling career debut at Gulfstream in January of 2020. Earning TDN Rising Star status following her 12-length triumph in that one-mile event, the daughter of Grade I winner Dame Dorothy (Bernardini) was runner up in the GII Davona Dale S. next before checking in fifth in the 8 1/2-furlong GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. Given a softer place to land for her return in a Belmont optional claimer in July, the chestnut responded with a 2 3/4-length win for trainer Todd Pletcher, but failed to carry that through next time out when a well-beaten sixth in last summer's GI Alabama S. Freshened for this season, she took an 8 1/2-furlong optional claimer at Keeneland in April before making it two straight in Pimlico's May 14 GIII Allaire DuPont Distaff S. over nine panels.

If anyone can benefit from a potential early speed duel it is Alpha Delta Stables' Point of Honor (Curlin). While winless since taking the 2019 GII Black-Eyed Susan S., the chestnut has hit the board in seven of eight starts since, including seconds in the GI Ogden Phipps S. and GII Beldame S. and thirds in the GI Personal Ensign S. and GI Apple Blossom S. In her latest trip to post, she rallied late to be sixth–beaten 4 1/2 lengths–in last November's Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland.

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Equibase Analysis: Silver Dust Could Upset Maxfield In Stephen Foster

This Saturday's Grade 2, $600,000 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs brings together a field of nine horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic division trying to earn a “Win and You're In” spot into the big race in November. Leading the field in terms of recent accomplishments is Maxfield, an earner of more than $900K in his career and the winner of six of seven lifetime races who enters the Stephen Foster off a win in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes in April at Churchill.

Chess Chief won the similar Grade 2 New Orleans Stakes in March, before a non-threatening third-place effort behind Maxfield in the Alysheba. Warrior's Charge is another who has had an excellent career, banking $887K, but his most recent win came in February of 2020 when victorious in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap. Visitant finished second in the Alysheba following a win in the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes and will certainly be on many a contender list.

South Bend won the Street Sense Stakes over the track as a two year old in 2019 and was winless in 12 straight before a strong allowance win in April. Sprawl just missed by a head in a three horse photo in the Blame Stakes over the track in his most recent race. Necker Island won his most recent race, also over the track just 20 days ago, but had not won prior to that since November, 2019 and has never won a stakes race. Empty Tomb rounds out the field, also going for his first stakes win and also having just won a race at Churchill Downs last month.

I'll start my win contender list with Silver Dust, who has a lot of mental ability to go along with his physical ability. This has resulted in 14 first or second place finishes in 31 dirt races and earnings of $975,677. Perhaps better still, Silver Dust has finished in the top three in eight of 10 career starts at Churchill Downs, winning twice. His best effort ever came over the track and was not a win but occurred when leading late and coming up a neck short of victory in the Lukas Classic Stakes in the fall of 2019, earning a very strong 113 ™ Equibase® Speed Figure in the process.

Putting that into perspective among the rest of the field, favorite Maxfield earned a 115 figure winning the Alysheba Stakes in his most recent race. In April, 20 days before Maxfield won the Alysheba, Silver Dust won the Ben Ali Stakes at the distance of the Stephen Foster even after a slow start and having to battle with two other horses the entire length of the stretch. Jockey Adam Beschizza rode Silver Dust to that victory and rides again which in my opinion gives Silver Dust a chance at posting the upset over likely heavily favored Maxfield in the race.

Maxfield won the first five races of his career including four stakes, the biggest of which was the 2019 Breeders' Futurity. Last season as a three year old Maxfield won the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in May but was unable to make the rescheduled Kentucky Derby in September. He returned off a layoff last December to win consecutive races including the Mineshaft Stakes with a then career-best 111 ™ figure. After a disappointing third-place finish as the heavy favorite in the Santa Anita Handicap in March of this year, Maxfield won the Alysheba Stakes on April 30 at Churchill Downs with authority, establishing a new career-best 115 figure while pulling away at the end to suggest he can run even better in the Stephen Foster.

Visitant won three of four races to start his career including the Alcatraz Stakes in the spring of 2019, then after two poorer efforts and a setback took 13 months off. Returning in the fall of 2020, Visitant got back into top form in his first two-turn race and second start of his comeback last December, then two races later in March won the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes at the distance of the Stephen Foster. Earning career-best 107 ™ figures in the comeback win in March and in the Kentucky Cup Classic, Visitant next squared off against Maxfield in the Alysheba and wasn't disgraced a bit when settling for second after leading for the first six furlongs in the race. The 110 figure earned in the Alysheba was a new best figure and he was four lengths clear of the third horse in a solid effort. Having run three “A” races in a row as a five year old, Visitant must be respected as a strong contender in this year's Stephen Foster Stakes.

The rest of the field, with their best ™ Equibase Speed Figures, is Chess Chief (106), Empty Tomb (100), Necker Island (99), South Bend (102), Sprawl (111) and Warrior's Charge (110).

Win Contenders:
Silver Dust
Maxfield
Visitant

Stephen Foster Stakes – Grade 2
Race 11 at Churchill Downs
Saturday, June 26 – Post Time 5:59 PM E.T.
One Mile and One Eighth
Four Year Olds and Upward
Purse: $600,000

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