stephen foster stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Maxfield Gives Godolphin Another Stakes Win In Stephen Foster

Earlier today, the blue silks of Godolphin came home first at the Curragh in County Kildaire, Ireland, with Hurricane Lane dashing to the lead in the final furlong to win the Group 1 Irish Derby. Hours later, clad in the same Godolphin blue, Jose Ortiz guided Maxfield to an easy win in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., clinching a guaranteed spot in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in Del Mar, Ca. in November.

Starting from post eight in a field of nine, Maxfield broke clean, content to sit midpack as Empty Tomb took the early lead with Claiborne Farm's Sprawl just behind him, Necker Island in third. In the backstretch, Maxfield was sixth, Empty Tomb and Sprawl still running one-two, but, as the field entered the final turn, Sprawl took over the lead and Ortiz put Maxfield in gear. Around the turn, Maxfield picked off horses, overtaking Sprawl as their field entered the stretch. From there, Maxfield drew away, increasing his advantage to three and a quarter lengths as he hit the wire. Behind him, Warrior's Charge passed Sprawl in the stretch to take second place, with Sprawl holding onto third and South Bend fourth. The time for the mile and an eight was 1:48.53.

Find this race's chart here.

Maxfield paid $2.80, $2.20, and $2.10. Warrior's Charge paid $5.00 and $3.60. Sprawl paid $4.20 to show.

The G2 Stephen Foster Stakes is a Win and You're In race on the road to the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 6. Winning horses receive a free and guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding Breeders' Cup race.

Bred and owned by Godolphin, Maxfield was sired by 2007 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense out of the Bernadini mare Velvety. Saturday's win gives Maxfield his third victory in four starts in 2021 and his seventh win in eight lifetime starts, with career earnings of $776,640. His other 2021 wins include the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Grade 3 Mineshaft Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.

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Tom’s D’Etat Stays On Top In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

GMB Racing's 7-year-old Tom's d'Etat, winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), retained the top spot in the latest 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington on Nov. 7.

The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through October 13. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

Trained by Al Stall Jr., Tom's d'Etat, who is scheduled to run at Saratoga in this Saturday's Whitney (G1), a “Win and You're In” for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), leads all Classic contenders with 312 votes. A bay son of Smart Strike, Tom's d'Etat earned a free berth into the Classic on June 27 when he won the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Gary and Mary West, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's 4-year-old Maximum Security (272) remains in second place in the Classic Rankings following his dramatic win by a nose over Midcourt in last Saturday's San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. In his first start for trainer Bob Baffert, the San Diego win was Maximum Security's first race since taking the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup in February.

W.S. Farish's 4-year-old Code of Honor (219 votes), also a candidate for the Whitney, has switched places with Sackatoga Stable's 3-year-old Tiz the Law (207 votes) in this week's poll. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Code of Honor, now ranked No. 3, won the Westchester Stakes (G3), and finished third in Metropolitan Handicap (G1), in his two starts this year.

Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tiz the Law, ranked fourth, is unbeaten in three starts this year for trainer Barclay Tagg. Tiz the Law, being pointed to the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) on Aug. 8, won the Holy Bull (G3) and the Florida Derby (G1) prior to his Belmont Stakes triumph.

Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 5-year-old mare Midnight Bisou (175 votes), the only female in the top 10, remains in fifth place. The Steve Asmussen-trained dark bay daughter of two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Midnight Lute dominated last month's Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs, romping to an 8 ¼-length victory. Midnight Bisou is slated to run in Saturday's Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

CRK Stable's 3-year-old Honor A. P. (121 votes) stays in sixth place in this week's rankings. Trained by John Shirrreffs, the dark bay son of Honor Code won the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) on June 6 in his last start.

Another likely starter for Saturday's Whitney, Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards (118 votes), is next in seventh place. Trained by Bret Calhoun, By My Standards won the New Orleans Handicap (G2) and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) before finishing second to Tom's d'Etat in the Stephen Foster.

Juddmonte Farms' 4-year-old Tacitus (99 votes) retains eighth place in the Classic Rankings. Trained by Bill Mott, Tacitus rolled to an 8 ¾-length victory in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on July 4.

WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing's Improbable (82 votes), moves up to ninth place, from 10th this week, switching places with R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stable's Vekoma (69 votes). Trained by Bob Baffert, Improbable, winner of the 1 ¼-mile Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita on June 6, is headed to Saratoga for Saturday's Whitney.

Rounding out the top 10 is the 4-year-old Vekoma, trained by George Weaver. Vekoma is unbeaten in three starts this year, including wins in Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races, the Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1), for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), and the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1), for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – July 28, 2020*

RANK	HORSE	TOTAL VOTES	FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1	Tom's d'Etat	312	18
2	Maximum Security	272	9
3	Code of Honor	219	3
4	Tiz the Law	207	1
5	Midnight Bisou	175	2
6	Honor A. P.	121	0
7	By My Standards	118	0
8	Tacitus	99	0
9	Improbable	82	0
10	Vekoma	69	1

*Note – The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

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Bloodlines: Versatile Tom’s D’Etat Defies Age, Convention With Continued Success

The career profile of Tom's d'Etat, winner of the Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 27, is so contrary to the norm for racehorses here in the States that it begs for comment. The most obvious exception to the norm in the horse's resume is that he is racing at a very high level while age seven, and he is not a gelding.

So, “Y'zat,” as one of my young friends would say.

The simplest answer is that the $330,000 Keeneland September yearling began bucking the trends of modern racing early on and didn't race at two but then won six of nine starts at three, four, and five. “Various minor ailments or injuries,” according to the connections, kept the good-looking son of Smart Strike from racing more often. More importantly, of course, the horse showed ability, winning his maiden at Saratoga at three, then adding allowance victories at Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, and Saratoga at four.

Beginning in November 2018 as a 5-year-old, Tom's d'Etat has been in steady racing, for him, and has maintained a high level of performance. When he returned to racing at five, Tom's d'Etat added a pair of victories: one was a fifth allowance, this at Churchill in November, and the second was the Tenacious Stakes at the Fair Grounds in December 2018. The Tenacious was the horse's ninth start and first black-type race. He's raced in nothing else since.

The “sheets” offer a further measure of the horse's ability and his steady level of performance over the past 20-odd months. From late 2018 to the present, according to the Thoro-Graph performance figures, Tom's d'Etat has earned a number above a zero, which is a very sharp number for the sheets, only once, when unplaced in his first experience of Grade 1 company in the 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. All the rest are negative 1s and 2s, and the number of horses who run negative numbers on the sheets is a tiny percentage of performers across the country; to run them consistently for more than two years is extraordinary.

The consistency of this horse's performances is a credit to trainer Al Stall, who has presented this horse at the races ready to give his best, and Tom's d'Etat has stayed sound and happy while maintaining the consistency of high-class form that has brought him victory in the G1 Clark, as well as the G2 Fayette and now the Stephen Foster.

Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock, Tom's d'Etat sold for $330,000 as a yearling, when he brought the seventh-highest price among 33 yearlings by the sire. Now the winner of more than $1.6 million, Tom's d'Etat looks like a pretty sound investment, and as a son of Smart Strike (Mr. Prospector), there could be more benefit to come.

The leading sire in the nation in 2007 and 2008, Smart Strike has proven a distinctive son of his great sire. The best of Smart Strike's stock have great speed and the ability to carry it, with both Curlin and Lookin at Lucky winning the Preakness Stakes and Curlin running a close second in the Belmont Stakes. Both were also champions at three, and in addition, Lookin at Lucky was the champion 2-year-old colt of his year.

Of equal importance, Smart Strike has been a very successful sire of stallions, with Horse of the Year and classic sire Curlin leading the list among the sons by Smart Strike. The stallion's additional champion sons English Channel and Lookin at Lucky have also struck gold on the sire lists, and they are significant sires of quality racers who have versatility with surface and distance.

Tom's d'Etat is out of the stakes-winning Julia Tuttle (Giant's Causeway), who is the best racer out of Candy Cane, an Argentine-bred full sister to leading sire Candy Ride (Ride the Rails). The dam of Candy Ride and Candy Cane is Candy Girl (Candy Stripes), a full sister to Argentine 2,000 Guineas winner City West. As a producer, Candy Girl is the dam of three major winners: the unbeaten Candy Ride, as well as the G3 stakes winners Candy Singer and Candy Apple.

This is a family that has shown the ability to race at the highest level at distances up to nine and 10 furlongs, on turf and dirt, in both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. With Tom's d'Etat racing sound, there is apparently more to come.

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Next Stop Saratoga For Tom’s D’Etat, Midnight Bisou After Dominating Performances At Churchill Downs

G M B Racing's brilliant $500,000 Stephen Foster (Grade II) winner Tom's d'Etat along with Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's ultra-classy $200,000 Fleur de Lis (GII) hero Midnight Bisou both exited Saturday's races at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., in good shape and will head to Saratoga in the coming days for their eight-week meet, according to their respective connections.

“It was just an unbelievable day on Saturday,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “To draw off like that, and almost break the track record, was unreal. He ran a sub 36-second final three-eighths. You don't see many route horses in the country that are able to do that, especially as geared down as he was in the final stages.”

Tom's d'Etat cruised to a 4 ¼-length win in Saturday's Stephen Foster, a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In Classic Division” race for the $7-million Breeders' Cup Classic (GI), which is scheduled for Nov. 7 at Keeneland. His connections will have all Breeders' Cup pre-entry and entry fees covered for the season-ending championship race.

Just one race prior to Tom's d'Etat, 2019 Eclipse Award-winner Midnight Bisou stylishly returned to the winner's circle with an emphatic 8 ¼-length victory in the Fleur de Lis.

“I can't say enough how thankful we are to Jeff Bloom, Sol Kumin and the Allens for keeping this brilliant mare in training for this year,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who had a busy Sunday morning working 13 horses beneath the Twin Spires.

By winning the Fleur de Lis, Midnight Bisou secured a “Win and You're In” berth to the $2-million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. The question remains if she will point toward the Distaff or the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

Asmussen and Stall's string of horses are expected to ship from Churchill Downs to Saratoga in the coming days. With the disrupted racing schedule around the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many trainers and jockeys are opting to remain in Kentucky for the summer and ship to Saratoga as necessary. Jockeys Tyler Gaffalione and Ricardo Santana Jr. are among the local riders expected to ride at Saratoga following Keeneland's Summer Meet which spans July 8-12.

Most of the other jockeys in the Churchill Downs riding colony such as Rafael Bejarano, James Graham, Florent Geroux, Brian Hernandez Jr., Chris Landeros, Corey Lanerie and Julien Leparoux plan to ride the summer at Ellis and ship out of town if necessary.

Many local trainers will keep their string of horses in training at Churchill Downs including typical Saratoga-goers D. Wayne Lukas and Dallas Stewart.

Several of the West-Coast trainers currently stabled at Churchill Downs, including Peter Miller and John Sadler, are planning to return to California for the Del Mar meet.

Chad Brown, who was a new addition to the Churchill Downs backstretch this spring, is planning on remaining stabled in Barn 26 throughout the summer and fall, according to his local assistant Whit Beckman. Brown will still be a very strong presence at Saratoga with the majority of his string based in New York.

The Kentucky racing circuit with shift to Ellis Park on Thursday, July 2-Sunday, July 5. Then, Keeneland will run their abbreviated Summer Meet from Wednesday, July 8-Sunday, July 12 before racing continues throughout the month of July and August at Ellis Park.

Racing at Churchill Downs will return on Tuesday, Sept. 1 for the start of Kentucky Derby Week.

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