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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. |
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."
Midnight Bisou winning the Fleur de Lis Stakes. |
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."
Harvey's Lil Goil winning the Regret Stakes. |
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."
Cazadero winning the Bashford Manor Stakes. |
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."
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