Stephen Foster

Baeza (McKinzie), winner of last term's GI Pennsylvania Derby and an unlucky third after completely missing the break in his 2026 return in the GII Alysheba S. May 1, is aiming to make his next start in a star-studded renewal of the $2-million GI Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs June 27. The 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland is also expected to showcase a highly anticipated rematch between 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and 2025 Horse of the Year...

Magnitude (Not This Time) continued preparations for the upcoming GI Stephen Foster S. with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.80 (12/16) at Churchill Downs Sunday. The Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer has now posted five workouts for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen--all beneath the Twin Spires--since defeating the globe-trotting 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) by a length in front-running fashion in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Mar. 28. "Very impressive horse, continues to train forwardly," Asmussen said. "Have two more scheduled workouts between now...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - For the third time in four years, another entry in Journalism's (Curlin) story will be written close to the corner of Union and East avenues. In 2023, he was purchased as a yearling for $825,000 by the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Last year, with a distinctive name and a pair of Grade I wins on his resume, he finished second in the showdown of Triple Crown race winners to Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, approximately...

These are uncertain times for Monmouth Park. The foal crop is down, their horse population is way down, and they're having trouble filling fields. That's what happens when you are one of many players in an overloaded Mid-Atlantic region and you are the only track that does not get revenue from casinos. (Monmouth does get a $10 million subsidy from the state to prop up purses, but that could be reduced to $2.5 million in 2027). Yet, better news may be around the corner. Bills have been introduced to have...

John Heims joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to talk about the future of racing at Monmouth Park. The Writers' Room team also discussed highlights from Memorial Day weekend racing and looked ahead to Belmont Stakes weekend and what is likely to be a star-studded GI Stephen Foster.

TwinSpires.com will hold an inaugural Royal Ascot Challenge Series, which will offer horseplayers opportunities to compete for cash prizes as well as potential seats at upcoming tournaments, the company announced Thursday. The first four tournaments, scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, through Friday, June 20, will serve as Royal Ascot "feeders" for the grand finale, the Royal Ascot Challenge held Saturday, June 21. Prizes for the Royal Ascot Challenge include cash and a potential seat in the upcoming Stephen Foster Betting Challenge June 28. "Each year American horseplayers have become increasingly...

Every now and then, a horse comes along who never seems to set a foot wrong. From record-setting freshman sire to perennial top 10 stallion, Uncle Mo is one of those horses. Additionally, it seems every time the Coolmore America/Ashford Stud sire reaches a new benchmark, he moves the bar just a little--or a lot--higher. The first-ever stakes winner for Repole Stables was a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut himself and has since been represented by 18 'Rising Stars' of his own, including three since May, and sired his 15th...

The 150th Spring Meet at Churchill Downs concluded Sunday with a record $708.3 million wagered over the 43-day meet. That broke the 2022 Spring Meet record of $614.8 million by $93.5 million. Just 10 years ago, the Spring Meet betting totaled $368.8 million. All sources handle during the six-day Derby Week (April 27-May 4) rose to $446.6 million--including $320.5 million on Kentucky Derby Day--to eclipse last year's Derby Week record of $412.0 million. The wagering increases continued throughout the final 37 days of the Spring Meet (May 9-June 30) as...

He may not have had a black-type win to his name coming into Saturday's GIII Blame S. at Churchill Downs, but some strong efforts and a 104 Beyer figure in his last out, a runner-up performance in the Apr. 20 GII Oaklawn H., were enough to convince the betting public HIGHLAND FALLS (c, 4, Curlin--Round Pond, by Awesome Again) belonged. They were right. The 4-5 choice got rolling late to catch last-out Keeneland allowance winner Cagliostro (Upstart) just before the wire, while former $975,000 Keeneland yearling and GI Pennsylvania Derby...

Ben Glass, the stable manager for Gary and Mary West, has reported that GI Stephen Foster S. winner West Will Power (Bernardini--Wild Promises, by Wild Event) has been sold to a Korean farm, where he will stand at stud next year. Glass said the deal was brokered by bloodstock agent Jun Park. Glass did not know what farm had bought West Will Power, but according to a Tweet from Korea Racing his new home will be Songma Farm. On July 1, West Will Power picked up the biggest victory of...

Gary and Mary West homebred West Will Power (h, 6, Bernardini--Wild Promises, by Wild Event) punched his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a half-length victory over the streaking Rattle N Roll (Connect) in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Stephen Foster S. at Ellis Park. The 2-1 favorite sat a perfect, stalking trip beneath Flavien Prat in second through fractions of :23.74 and :46.97. He hit the front right outside of the quarter pole, set sail for home and stayed on to hold the fast-finishing Rattle N...

In a modification to the previously announced "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In" television schedule, Breeders' Cup Limited has eliminated the July 1 GI Stephen Foster S. from television coverage. Logistical challenges arose when the race was moved from Churchill Downs to Ellis Park along with the remainder of Churchill's current meet. The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series features 80 qualifying races in 11 countries. Many of the races, including the Stephen Foster, will be televised on FanDuel TV with five live programs split between NBC, FOX, and CNBC....