Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Stephen Foster Stakes

Jun 24, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

First Mission wins the Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to McCarlee Perkins)

An exciting field of seven will travel 1 1/8 miles over the famed Churchill Downs main strip in Saturday’s $1 million Stephen Foster S. (G1). The feature on a massive day of racing in Louisville attracted four Grade 1 winners in one of the most accomplished fields that has been assembled to date this season.

Godolphin’s First Mission has run a pair of big races to kick off his five-year-old campaign and will be a major contender in his second attempt in the race for conditioner Brad Cox. By Street Sense, the Kentucky-bred went off at 4-5 odds in the event last year but could only muster a fourth-place finish after leading to the turn for home. He has returned a stronger racehorse this campaign with a neck third in the Razorback H. (G3) in his seasonal bow, which preceded a fine tally in the lucrative Oaklawn H. (G2) last time out.

#3 First Mission rockets home to take the Alysheba Stakes presented by TwinSpires @ChurchillDowns as the even money favorite!

Jockey: @flothejock
Trainer: @bradcoxracing
Owner: @godolphin

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/gLsYgCTkZS

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2024

First Mission captured the 2024 Alysheba S. (G2) by a commanding four lengths to prove his affinity for the surface, and he has posted six well-timed drills in advance of his return to this setting, as well. He has the gate speed to be placed nearly anywhere in the contest in the opening stages and could possibly end up on the front end with a swift break under Luis Saez.

Recent Churchill Downs S. (G1) hero Mindframe has run exceptionally well in each career assignment for conditioner Todd Pletcher. The dark bay son of Constitution finished runner-up in both the Belmont S. (G1) and Haskell S. (G1) as a three-year-old and has picked up right where he left off at four. Maryland-bred colt is versatile, he’s been training well leading up to Saturday, and the dark bay is also two-for-two over this course, as well. Regular pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr., will take the reins.

Reigning Horse of the Year Sierra Leone missed by a nose in the Kentucky Derby last season in his lone prior try at Churchill and rates an obvious chance for conditioner Chad Brown. The standout son of Gun Runner put in a useful effort in his seasonal debut when a clear third in the New Orleans S. (G2) at Fair Grounds, and I expect the colt to be fully fit and to move forward in a big way in this spot. Flavien Prat will have the $6 million earner gearing up for his late charge approaching the turn for home.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #1 First Mission on top of #2 Mindframe and #4 Sierra Leone in the 2025 Stephen Foster Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.