Shawnee Stakes

It was reported earlier in the week that Boyd Racing and By Talla Racing's Splendora (Audible) would not take her spot in the field for Saturday's GII Shawnee Stakes on Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs. Ultimately--and to the surprise of most--she was given her chance by trainer Bob Baffert and the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner sat a pace-pressing trip, easily seeing out the 8 1/2-furlong trip to validate 6-5 favoritism. The Maryland-bred showed good pace from gate five, but was beaten to the...

Four weeks removed from the running of the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs stages its second stacked weekend of the spring/summer meeting, with five Grade IIIs and one listed contest on 'Stephen Foster Preview' Day. The program serves as a steppingstone to Foster Day itself in a month's time. A field of 10 has been entered for the GIII Blame Stakes, the course-and-distance prep for the $1-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Gary and Mary...