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2020 Stephen Foster Day Results

Date: 06/27/2020

The third-richest race contested at Churchill Downs after the Kentucky Derby and Oaks (postponed to September this year) is the $500,000 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), featuring some of the top older horses in the country going 1 1/8 miles over the main track, with the winner earning automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) under the Win and You're In promotion. As has been the case all meeting, racing was conducted before empty stands and minimal media and staff. Conditions were excellent for most of Saturday, with cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80's, with the main track fast and the Matt Winn turf course firm, but rain fell during the stakes quartet that closed the card.


Tom's d'Etat winning the Stephen Foster Stakes.

Clark (G1) and Oaklawn Mile winner Tom's d'Etat was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the field of 8. In to challenge him included 2-1 second choice By My Standards, winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and 9-2 third choice Owendale, winner of the Blame Stakes. Jockey Mike Smith sent 14-1 Pirate's Punch to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.89 and 48.13 while pressed by Tom's d'Etat and stalked by 68-1 longest shot Alhaatam. On the far turn jockey Miguel Mena sent Tom's d'Etat to the front through 3/4 in 1:11.67. In the stretch Tom's d'Etat drew away from the field, finishing 4 1/4 lengths clear of late-running By My Standards in 1:47.30, just 2/100 off the track record. It was another 2 3/4 lengths more to 28-1 Silver Dust third.

Winning trainer Al Stall Jr. said, "We knew coming into this race he was a fresh horse but ran so well fresh in the past. This will set him up to be in good shape for the rest of the year. I think he'll benefit a lot from this race but we've sort of been waiting for this horse to get into form with the breaks in his races but he's finally got there. That was a very impressive performance today." Jockey Miguel Mena added, "I knew he was a lot of fun to ride him in the morning but didn't realize how much fun he was in the afternoon. I owe everything to Al for giving me the opportunity to ride such an impressive horse. He was going along so easy and I just asked him for his attention a little bit at the top of the lane and I didn't even have to really step on the gas."

Full results chart



Midnight Bisou winning the Fleur de Lis Stakes.
Immediately before the Foster, a field of 7 older fillies and mares contested the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) also at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and Saudi Cup runner-up Midnight Bisou was sent off as the 1-2 favorite over 8-5 Serengeti Empress, 11th in the Apple Blossom (G1), and 10-1 Go Google Yourself, winner of the Bayakoa (G3) but 7th in the Apple Blossom.

Jockey Joe Talamo sent Serengeti Empress to the front first time by through fractions of 23.18, 46.15, and 1:09.74 while pressed by 34-1 Motion Emotion and stalked by Midnight Bisou. Turning for home Mike Smith asked Midnight Bisou and she surged to the front through 1 mile in 1:35.40, and drew off to win by 8 1/4 lengths over Motion Emotion in 1:48.99. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to 26-1 Another Broad third.

Winning trainer Steve Asmussen said, "She's a really special mare. To come back, in that sort of style, is just tremendous. She has such an amazing talent and such a great relationship with Mike. She beat a wonderful-looking group of mares. We have nothing but respect towards them." Jockey Mike Smith added, "She's just an amazing mare. I actually had took the lead a little before I wanted to. We were planning on laying a little bit closer but the way Serengeti Empress was winging it on the front end we were a little further back. She's just incredibly special."

Full results chart



Harvey's Lil Goil winning the Regret Stakes.
The last race of the afternoon was the $100,000 Regret Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Allowance winner Crystal Cliffs was the 6-5 favorite in the field of 13 over 11-2 Stunning Sky, third in the Honey Ryder, and 13-2 In Good Spirits, 4th in the Tepin. Jockey Florent Geroux sent 17-1 Eve of War to lead through fractions of 23.26, 47.48, and 1:11.80 while pressed by 11-1 Harvey's Lil Goil and stalked by In Good Spirits. Turning for home Eve of War tired allowing Harvey's Lil Goil to inherit the lead through 1 mile in 1:35.81. Crystal Cliffs put in a strong late rally but Harvey's Lil Goil held her off to win by a head in 1:47.70. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to In Good Spirits third.

Kenny McCarthy, assistant to winning trainer Bill Mott said, "I thought we were in a little bit of trouble when Johnny (Velazquez aboard Crystal Cliffs) dove to the rail. However, when she got to her late in the stretch, she was able to fight back. She's a very classy filly and now sports multiple stakes wins on both the dirt and the turf." Jockey Martin Garcia added, "She was so impressive today. She tried and ran very hard late in the stretch. She was very determined."

Full results chart



Cazadero winning the Bashford Manor Stakes.
Kicking off the Saturday stakes quartet was the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds sprinting 6 furlongs on the main track. Cazadero was the 2-5 favorite over 11-2 Hyperfocus and 6-1 Gatsby. All 7 horses in the field were exiting debut wins. Jockey James Graham sent 16-1 County Final to the lead out of the chute through fractions of 21.24 and 45.12 while pressed by 17-1 Hulen and stalked by Cazadero. Turning for home jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. sent Cazadero to lead through 5f in 57.23. Kept to task by Santana, Cazadero drew off to win by 4 3/4 lengths over County Final in 1:09.73. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 12-1 Herd Immunity third.

Winning trainer Steve Asmussen said, "He's been a very fast horse in his training and handled everything very well today." Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. added, "He is an incredibly nice horse. We sat in a really good spot today and was very comfortable. He kept finding his stride throughout the stretch."

Full results chart

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