Study Guide: 2026 Stephen Foster Stakes

Jun 22, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Sovereignty wins the 151st Kentucky Derby. (Photo by Coady Media)

Four Grade 1 winners, including a trio of past Kentucky Derby (G1) starters, will face off in a stellar edition of the $2 million Stephen Foster (G1) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The field is led by Sovereignty, winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby. He’s joined by Baeza (third in the 2025 Kentucky Derby) and White Abarrio (16th in the 2022 Kentucky Derby). Another prominent entrant is Magnitude, an up-and-comer with strong credentials.

The outcome of the Stephen Foster could have a major impact on the battle for 2026 Horse of the Year honors. Let’s meet the full field:

Willy D’s

Start(s): 27
Wins: 7
Place: 7
Show: 2

Owner: Paradise Farms
Breeder: Beau Lane
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (108) when winning a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $874,008

Sire: Lookin At Lucky
Dam: Boston Mine
Color: Bay

Willy D’s has won his last two starts, taking the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) and Lake Ouachita S. in determined fashion. However, he’s yet to compete in a Grade 1 race, and the Stephen Foster is by far the toughest test of his career.

White Abarrio

Start(s): 26
Wins: 11
Place: 3
Show: 3

Owner: C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (108) when winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $8,445,170

Sire: Race Day
Dam: Catching Diamonds
Color: Gray/roan

White Abarrio is a force to reckon with on his best day. He counts among his signature wins the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and 2025 Pegasus World Cup (G1). He was last seen finishing fast to defeat Sovereignty by two lengths in the April 18 Oaklawn H. (G2), so if White Abarrio brings his A game to the Stephen Foster, he’ll be a formidable win contender.

The 7-year-old 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗢 wins the Oaklawn Park Hcp. (G2) under jockey @iradortiz who made a masterful move at the top of the stretch for trainer @SaffieJosephJr #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/cU7wm29Mus

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 18, 2026

Sovereignty

Start(s): 10
Wins: 6
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (112) when winning the Travers (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $6,079,050

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Crowned
Color: Bay

Sovereignty earned 2025 Horse of the Year honors after winning the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont (G1), Jim Dandy (G2), and Travers (G1) in succession. He kicked off 2026 with a respectable runner-up finish in the Oaklawn H., where he set the pace before weakening late, finishing two lengths behind White Abarrio. Sovereignty normally settles off the lead before rallying in the homestretch, so if he returns to that running style for his second run of 2026, he can bounce back in a big way and turn the tables on White Abarrio.

Baeza

Start(s): 10
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 3

Owner: C R K Stable and Grandview Equine
Breeder: Grandview Equine
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (107) when finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $1,717,200

Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Puca
Color: Bay

Baeza fought hard against Sovereignty last year, finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Belmont, and second in the Jim Dandy. They’ve gone their separate ways since then, with Baeza most notably defeating Magnitude by 2 1/4 lengths in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Baeza suffered a poor start in his 2026 debut in the Alysheba (G2), but he nevertheless gained a lot of ground to finish a close third. A better break in the Stephen Foster could put Baeza in the hunt for a top-three finish, even while facing tougher competition.

Magnitude

Start(s): 13
Wins: 7
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Ron Stolich
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (105) when winning the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $8,544,365

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Rockadelic
Color: Bay

Since finishing third to Sovereignty in the Travers and second to Baeza in the Pennsylvania Derby, Magnitude has elevated his game to a new level. He ended 2025 by defeating older horses in the Clark (G2), and he’s gone 2-for-2 in 2026, taking the Razorback H. (G3) before conquering international superstar Forever Young in the Dubai World Cup (G1). Magnitude is on a roll and has a shot to upset Sovereignty and White Abarrio in the Stephen Foster.

Forged Steel

Start(s): 18
Wins: 5
Place: 3
Show: 3

Owner: C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stable
Breeder: Richard E. Wilson
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (107) when winning the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $416,130

Sire: Vekoma
Dam: Scorecard
Color: Gray/roan

Forged Steel has won three of his last four starts, including the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) by 9 1/2 lengths. That runaway win earned a strong Brisnet Speed rating of 107. However, Forged Feel has yet to face a field as tough as the Stephen Foster, so stepping up in class is a major question mark.

Navajo Warrior

Start(s): 17
Wins: 9
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: BAG Racing Stables, Miller Racing, Derek K. Paul, Mathis Stable, Paul Braverman, and Timothy Punch
Breeder: Hinkle Farms
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (107) when winning a $125,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $452,609

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Crosswinds
Color: Dark bay/brown

Navajo Warrior enters the Stephen Foster off back-to-back wins, including a 2 3/4-length triumph in the Pimlico Special (G3). Like Forged Steel, Navajo Warrior has run fast on the Brisnet Speed rating scale, but the Stephen Foster is easily the toughest race he’s tackled so far. Upsetting the established Grade 1 winners won’t be easy.