| "2012 Stephen Foster Handicap Preview" (Post Time: 9:39 p.m. ET), Surface: Dirt, 1 1/8 Miles, Open, 3 Year Olds And Up, G1 STAKES, Purse: $400,000, Churchill Downs |
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The Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap is the most prestigious race on the Churchill Downs calendar not called the Kentucky Derby. The nine furlong race will tell us who the best older horse is on the east coast once the dust clears.
NATE’S MINESHAFT (Mineshaft x Angels Tearlet by Silver Deputy): Bay five-year-old went on a tear at Fair Grounds winning two graded stakes races after running for a $30k tag at the beginning of the meet. He was last seen toying with the Lone Star Park Handicap field. He likes to be in front early on so look for jockey Joel Campbell to try to take this group all the way.
FORT LARNED (E Dubai x Arlucea by Broad Brush): Ian Wilkes pupil has turned into a different animal since getting back on dirt in his final start of 2011. Since then, he has won three of five races including the Skip Away at Gulfstream. He likes to step on the pedal early in the race. This could get him in a speed duel with Nate’s Mineshaft.
WISE DAN (Wiseman’s Ferry x Lisa Danielle by Wolf Power): Most racing analysts were blown away with his last out effort in the Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland where he looked rank early on, but drew off by 10 ½ lengths. The gelding has won half of his starts at Churchill, including the Clark Handicap to end last year’s campaign. John Velazquez seems to fit him like a glove and Charles Lopresti has done a masterful training job. Clearly the one to beat and should be a heavy favorite.
NEHRO (Mineshaft x The Administrator by Afleet): It looked as if 2011’s Kentucky Derby runner up might have lost a step until his last out second place finish in the Pimlico Special. He was charging hard to the wire and missed out on the win by just a nose. Today he will race third off the layoff for jockey Corey Nakatani and trainer Steve Asmussen. The bay colt likes racing under the Twin Spires and could be finishing best of all late in the race.
RON THE GREEK (Full Mandate x Flambe’ by Fortunate Prospect): Has been a different animal since joining the barn of Bill Mott. That statement was displayed with an exclamation point two races back when he annexed the Santa Anita Handicap by 3 ½ lengths. He was last seen racing into second in the Oaklawn Handicap after encountering traffic. Bill Mott is the #1 trainer by win in Churchill Downs history. Jose Lezcano gets the call to ride.
ROGUE ROMANCE (Smarty Jones x Lovington by Afleet): Precocious juvenile missed a lot of time due to injury before resurfacing this year with a resounding optional claimer win at Gulfstream. He was rushed back in the Ben Ali Stakes where he didn’t lift a hoof, but rebounded with a third level optional claiming win over this track. He’s going to have to improve by a wide margin while tackling this distance for the first time. Manny Cruz gets the call to ride for Ken McPeek.
MISSION IMPAZIBLE (Unbridled’s Song x La Paz by Hold Your Peace): Hard luck horse hasn’t won since the 2011 New Orleans Handicap. He has run as well as you can without winning though, posting second place finishes in last year’s edition of this race as well as the 2011 Clark Handicap. The gray or roan horse has been first or second in six of nine tries at the distance. Todd Pletcher, who is 0 for 15 at the meet, trains and JJ Castellano will be in the irons.
ALTERNATION (Distorted Humor x Alternate by Seattle Slew): Has run the win streak to four races in a row after taking the Pimlico Special against a Grade 1 caliber field last out. The big and powerful colt has tactical speed, but should sit right behind the early pacesetters. He excels at this distance and appears to be getting better with each race. Luis Quinonez rides for Donnie Von Hemel.
SUCCESSFUL DAN (Successful Appeal x Lisa Danielle by Wolf Power): Half brother to Wise Dan has been entered as an insurance policy in the event that his brother cannot run. Look for him to scratch.