Study Guide: 2025 Stephen Foster Stakes

Jun 23, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Mystik Dan (rail) reaches the wire before Sierra Leone (outside) and Forever Young (middle) in the Kentucky Derby (Photo by Rickelle Nelson/Horsephotos.com)

Saturday’s $1 million Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs is shaping up as a rematch of the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The top two finishers from last year’s Run for the Roses—Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone—are facing off for the first time since their meeting on the first Saturday in May. They’re joined by five other talented horses, all vying for the “Win and You’re In” berth to the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) awarded to the Stephen Foster winner.

Let’s take a horse-by-horse tour through the entries:

First Mission

Start(s): 12
Wins: 6
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (106) when winning the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $2,060,170

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Elude
Color: Dark bay/brown

First Mission produces big efforts on occasion. Last year, he won the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs by four lengths, and two months ago, he beat a quality field in the Oaklawn H. (G2). But he hasn’t finished better than fourth in three tries against Grade 1 company, including the 2024 Stephen Foster. He may need a step forward to beat this year’s deep field.

Mindframe

Start(s): 6
Wins: 4
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Breeder: R. Larry Johnson
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (106) when winning a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $1,292,160

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Walk of Stars
Color: Dark bay/brown

Never out of the exacta in six starts, Mindframe enters the Stephen Foster in hot form. He’s 2-for-2 in 2025, winning the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) before rallying to defeat a strong field in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs (G1). However, the majority of Mindframe’s wins have come in one-turn races, so stretching back out around two turns for the Stephen Foster is at least a small question mark.

Mindframe gets up in time to take the G1 Churchill Downs! 🌟@iradortiz on board for trainer Todd Pletcher! 🏇

🎥TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ufWk4OsR25

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025

Skippylongstocking

Start(s): 32
Wins: 11
Place: 3
Show: 7

Owner: Daniel Alonso
Breeder: Brushy Hill
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (108) when winning the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $3,661,610

Sire: Exaggerator
Dam: Twinkling
Color: Bay

Skippylongstocking has excelled in Grade 2 and Grade 3 races, winning nine of them dating back to 2022. Last time out, he took the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) with a career-best 108 Brisnet Speed rating. But two starts back, he lost the Oaklawn H. (G2) to First Mission, and take note, Skippylongstocking hasn’t finished better than third in 10 starts at the Grade 1 level. Stepping up in class is an obstacle to overcome.

Sierra Leone

Start(s): 10
Wins: 4
Place: 3
Show: 3

Owner: Peter M. Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith
Breeder: Debby M. Oxley
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (114) when winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $6,058,000

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Heavenly Love
Color: Dark bay/brown

Sierra Leone ran a gallant race in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, closing strongly despite lugging in to finish second by a nose against Mystik Dan. Later on, he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) over a top-notch field, earning champion three-year-old male honors. But Sierra Leone misfired in his 2025 debut, finishing third in the New Orleans Classic (G2), and he’ll need a rebound to defeat this strong Stephen Foster field.

Mystik Dan

Start(s): 13
Wins: 4
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: 4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm
Breeder: Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4GRacing
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (103) when winning the Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $4,417,570

Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Ma’am
Color: Bay

After saving ground all the way to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby in a three-horse photo finish, Mystik Dan lost his next five starts. But he bounced back when returning to Churchill Downs for the 1 1/8-mile Blame (G3) last month, again employing ground-saving tactics to win by 1 1/4 lengths with a career-best 103 Brisnet Speed rating. Sticking to the same track and distance should help this Churchill Downs standout vie for victory in the Stephen Foster.

Hit Show

Start(s): 18
Wins: 9
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Gary & Mary West Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (108) when finishing fourth in the Belmont (G1) at Belmont Park.
Total Earnings: $8,406,928

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Actress
Color: Gray/roan

Hit Show has been on a roll since last summer. He won four graded stakes between August and January, and then in April, he delivered a career-best performance to take the Dubai World Cup (G1). But the Stephen Foster is arguably a tougher spot, and Hit Show may need another step forward to conquer Mindframe, Sierra Leone, and Mystik Dan.

Ashcroft

Start(s): 12
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Debra Barkley
Breeder: EAS Equine Alliance, Craig Netwig, and Debra Barkley
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Top Speed Rating: (96) when finishing second in a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $109,923

Sire: Munnings
Dam: Sky Willow
Color: Chestnut

Ashcroft has won twice against easier class levels in California, but he’s struggled a bit since tackling stakes company in Kentucky, finishing fifth in the Commonwealth (G3) and sixth in the Knicks Go S. He’ll be a longshot in the betting while joining the Grade 1 ranks in the Stephen Foster.