Study Guide: 2022 Stephen Foster Stakes
Jun 30, 2022
Caddo River winning the 2021 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
The second half of the 2022 racing calendar kicks off in a big way on Saturday with a bevy of graded stakes taking place across the United States. One of the richest is the $750,000 Stephen Foster S. (G2) at Churchill Downs, a 1 1/8-mile 'Win and You're In' qualifier to the 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.
Let's meet the Stephen Foster entrants:
| Total 13 start(s) |
Top Speed Rating: (100) when dominating an Oaklawn Park allowance. |
| Wins: 5 | Total Earnings: $648,900 |
| Place: 4 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: Shortleaf Stable | Sire: Hard Spun |
| Breeder: Shortleaf Stable | Dam: Pangburn |
| Trainer: Brad Cox | Color: Dark bay/brown |
| Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. |
Caddo River made plenty of noise on the 2020-21 Road to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Smarty Jones S. and placing second in the Arkansas Derby (G1), but he's run even better in recent starts. The improving four-year-old has rattled off three straight allowance wins at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs, winning each by a minimum of 4 1/2 lengths. Caddo River has lots of early speed, but also showed a strong finishing kick when dominating a one-mile allowance at Churchill Downs last month in the fast time of 1:33.52. Victory in the Stephen Foster is within reach, especially if he shakes loose on an uncontested lead.
| Total 8 start(s) |
Top Speed Rating: (118) when trouncing the Empire Classic H. at Belmont Park. |
| Wins: 5 | Total Earnings: $953,110 |
| Place: 0 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: CHC and WinStar Farm | Sire: Constitution |
| Breeder: Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding | Dam: Polly Freeze |
| Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Color: Chestnut |
| Jockey: Luis Saez |
Talented New York-bred colt came to hand impressively last fall, finishing third in a tough renewal of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) before dominating the Empire Classic H. and battling to victory in the Cigar Mile H. (G1). Along the way, Americanrevolution posted a quartet of powerful Brisnet Speed ratings in the 101-118 range. But Americanrevolution ran well below form when kicking off 2022 with a fourth-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Blame S. on June 4 at Churchill Downs, beaten three lengths as the heavy favorite. He'll need a rebound to challenge in the Stephen Foster.
| Total 9 start(s) |
Top Speed Rating: (105) when winning the Alysheba S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. |
| Wins: 6 | Total Earnings: $952,240 |
| Place: 1 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables, and LNJ Foxwoods | Sire: Speightstown |
| Breeder: Emory A. Hamilton | Dam: Tokyo Time |
| Trainer: Bill Mott | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Junior Alvarado |
The horse to beat in the Stephen Foster is likely the red-hot Olympiad, an exciting four-year-old undefeated in four starts this year. Victories in the Mineshaft S. (G3), New Orleans Classic S. (G2), and Alysheba S. (G2) have all been achieved by a minimum of 2 1/4 lengths. He finished fast in the Alysheba at Churchill last month, running the final five-sixteenths of a mile in approximately :29 2/5 to defeat Grade 1 winner Happy Saver by 2 1/2 lengths. Olympiad has the tactical speed to sit a favorable forwardly placed trip and should be tough to outkick down the Stephen Foster homestretch.
| Total 31 start(s) |
Top Speed Rating: (103) |
| Wins: 5 | Total Earnings: $752,880 |
| Place: 6 | |
| Show: 6 |
| Owner: Charles E. Fipke | Sire: More Than Ready |
| Breeder: Charles Fipke | Dam: Title Seeker |
| Trainer: Dallas Stewart | Color: Dark bay/brown |
| Jockey: Brian Hernandez |
A veteran of 31 starts, Title Ready scored his signature victory in the 2021 Louisiana S. (G3) at Fair Grounds. But Title Ready hasn't visited the winner's circle in half a dozen runs since then and was beaten to third place by Olympiad in the Alysheba S. (G2) at Churchill last month, suggesting a top-four finish might be the ceiling for Title Ready's potential against this deep field.
| Total 11 start(s) |
Top Speed Rating: (103) when finishing second in the New Orleans Classic S. (G2) at Fair Grounds. |
| Wins: 3 | Total Earnings: $438,650 |
| Place: 5 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: Godolphin | Sire: Tapit |
| Breeder: Godolphin | Dam: Panty Raid |
| Trainer: Michael Stidham | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Joel Rosario |
Proxy hasn't missed the top four in 11 career starts, including six tries against graded stakes company. Consistency is one of Proxy's greatest weapons, but he was beaten two lengths by Olympiad when second in the New Orleans Classic S. (G2) three starts back, and he couldn't quite seal the deal over the track and distance of the Stephen Foster when finishing second in the Blame S. last month. He might need a step forward to challenge for better than a top-four finish.
| Total 10 start(s) |
Top Speed Rating: (104) when winning the Louisiana S. (G3) at Fair Grounds. |
| Wins: 6 | Total Earnings: $2,041,252 |
| Place: 1 | |
| Show: 1 |
| Owner: Juddmonte | Sire: Into Mischief |
| Breeder: Juddmonte Farms | Dam: Brooch |
| Trainer: Brad Cox | Color: Bay |
| Jockey: Florent Geroux |
The most accomplished horse in the Stephen Foster field is Mandaloun, who was awarded victories in the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Haskell S. (G1) via disqualifications. The Brad Cox trainee kicked off 2022 with a sharp victory in the Louisiana S. (G3) at Fair Grounds, but subsequently faltered to finish ninth in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) in Saudi Arabia. Returning to the site of his Derby triumph may trigger a rebound (especially after churning out a sharp series of workouts at Churchill), but Mandaloun is facing tough competition in the Stephen Foster, including his hot stablemate Caddo River. Mandaloun is a logical win threat, though he's not necessarily unbeatable.
| Total 15 start(s) | Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing second in the Greenwood Cup (G3) at Parx Racing. |
| Wins: 4 | Total Earnings: $946,744 |
| Place: 3 | |
| Show: 2 |
| Owner: Willis Horton Racing | Sire: Malibu Moon |
| Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings | Dam: Lady Samuri |
| Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas | Color: Chestnut |
| Jockey: Jon Court |
Last Samurai fired off a big effort in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn H. (G2) on April 23, setting the early pace and battling back after losing the lead to draw off and beat multiple graded stakes winner Fearless by four lengths. Last Samurai's finish was strong (he earned a powerful 113 Brisnet Late Pace rating), but can he repeat the feat while squaring off against tougher competition in the Stephen Foster? Last Samurai is progressing in the right direction, but this marks his toughest test to date.
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