Stephen Foster Stakes

The Stephen Foster Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three and older over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on the dirt run annually in mid-June at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky. The race is named in honor of famed composer Stephen Foster, who wrote numerous melodies including "My Old Kentucky Home" which is the song that is annually played as the Kentucky Derby field parades on the track.[1]

Stephen Foster Stakes
Grade I race
Curlin on his way to winning the Stephen Foster Handicap 2008
LocationEllis Park Race Course
Henderson, Kentucky, USA
Inaugurated1982
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
WebsiteChurchill Downs
Race information
Distance1+1⁄8 miles
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-Year-Olds and older
Weight124 lbs
Purse$1,000,000 (2023)
BonusesWinner automatic entry into Breeders' Cup Classic

Originally held at Churchill Downs, the race moved to Ellis Park on the Indiana-Kentucky border in 2023 as a result of numerous spring meeting fatalities.[2]

History

The Stephen Foster Handicap was inaugurated on 19 June 1982 as the Stephen Foster Handicap and has progressed from Grade III status in 1988 to Grade II in 1995 to Grade I in 2002.[3] In 2019, it was downgraded to Grade II.[4] In 2023 the event was upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee to Grade I.[5]

Currently offering a purse of $1,000,000, the race draws some of the top older horses from various parts of the United States. Since 2015 the event is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event, offering the winner an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic.[6]

The race was restricted to horses four years of age an older in 1983 and from 1985 through 1987.[1]

The 2006 edition of the Stephen Foster Handicap produced its biggest upset ever when jockey Calvin Borel aboard 91-1 longshot Seek Gold defeated the favored 2003 winner, Perfect Drift.[1]

Four horses used victories in the Stephen Foster as part of their resumes in Horse of the Year campaigns. The four are Black Tie Affair (1991), Saint Liam (2005), Curlin (2008), and Gun Runner (2017). Five horses have won the Stephen Foster and the Breeders' Cup Classic in the same year. Black Tie Affair (1991), Awesome Again (1998) and Blame (2010) won both races at Churchill Downs. Saint Liam (2005) won his running of the Classic at Belmont Park. Gun Runner (2017) won the Classic at Del Mar. Curlin (2008) carried the highest impost of any Stephen Foster winner: 128 pounds. Colonial Colony (2004) carried the lightest winning Foster impost at 111 pounds.[1]

Records

Speed record

Margins

Most wins

  • 2 - Vodika Collins (1982, 1983)
  • 2 - Recoup the Cash (1994, 1995)

Most wins by a jockey

Most wins by a trainer

Most wins by an owner

  • 2 - Milbert B. Collins (1982, 1983)
  • 2 - Richard E. Trebat (1994, 1995)
  • 2 - Stronach Stables (1998, 2000)
  • 2 - West Point Thoroughbreds (2007, 2009)

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Ellis Park – Stephen Foster Stakes
2023 West Will Power 6 Flavien Prat Brad H. Cox Gary & Mary West 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.93 $1,000,000 I [7]
At Churchill Downs
2022 Olympiad 4 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables & LNJ Foxwoods 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.66 $600,000 II [8]
2021 Maxfield 4 Jose L. Ortiz Brendan P. Walsh Godolphin 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.53 $600,000 II [9]
2020 Tom's d'Etat 7 Miguel Mena Albert Stall Jr. G M B Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.30 $500,000 II [10]
2019 Seeking the Soul 6 John R. Velazquez Dallas Stewart Charles E. Fipke 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.27 $600,000 II [11]
Stephen Foster Handicap
2018 Pavel 4 Mario Gutierrez Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.21 $500,000 I [12]
2017 Gun Runner 4 Florent Geroux Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.56 $500,000 I [13]
2016 Bradester 6 Joe Bravo Eddie Kenneally Joseph Sutton 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.85 $500,000 I [14]
2015 Noble Bird 4 Shaun Bridgmohan Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.94 $500,000 I [15]
2014 Moonshine Mullin 6 Calvin H. Borel Randy L. Morse Randy Patterson 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.66 $500,000 I [16]
2013 Fort Larned 5 Brian Hernandez Jr. Ian R. Wilkes Janis R. Whitham 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.45 $500,000 I [17]
2012 Ron the Greek 5 Jose Lezcano William I. Mott Brous Stable, Wachtel Stable & Jack Hammer 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.51 $437,200 I [18]
2011 Pool Play 6 Miguel Mena Mark E. Casse William S. Farish IV 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.52 $561,300 I [19]
2010 Blame 4 Garrett K. Gomez Albert Stall Jr. Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.37 $671,700 I [20]
2009 Macho Again 4 Robby Albarado Dallas Stewart West Point Thoroughbreds 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.75 $660,000 I [21]
2008 Curlin 4 Robby Albarado Steven M. Asmussen Stonestreet Stables et al. 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.68 $1,000,000 I [22]
2007 Flashy Bull 4 Robby Albarado Kiaran P. McLaughlin West Point Thoroughbreds 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.63 $829,500 I [23]
2006 Seek Gold 6 Calvin H. Borel Ron Moquett Bowman Couch Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.24 $844,500 I [24]
2005 Saint Liam 5 Edgar S. Prado Robert J. Frankel Mr. & Mrs. William K. Warren Jr. 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.52 $828,000 I [25]
2004 Colonial Colony 6 Rafael Bejarano Walter M. Bindner Jr. Lakeside Farms (Chris Nolan) 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.40 $893,725 I [26]
2003 Perfect Drift 4 Pat Day Murray W. Johnson Stonecrest Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.55 $856,500 I [27]
2002 Street Cry (IRE) 4 Jerry D. Bailey Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.44 $833,250 I [28]
2001 Guided Tour 5 Larry Melancon Niall M. O'Callaghan Morton Fink 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.74 $831,000 II [29]
2000 Golden Missile 5 Kent J. Desormeaux Joe Orseno Stronach Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.56 $810,000 II [30]
1999 Victory Gallop 4 Jerry D. Bailey W. Elliott Walden Prestonwood Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.28 $827,250 II [31]
1998 Awesome Again 4 Pat Day Patrick B. Byrne Stronach Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.61 $799,500 II [32]
1997 City by Night 4 Shane Sellers Patrick B. Byrne Richard & Nancy Kaster 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.52 $163,950 II [33]
1996 Tenants Harbor 4 Francisco C. Torres Robert L. Desensi Michael Sheehan 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.94 $166,050 II [34]
1995 Recoup the Cash 5 Aaron Gryder Jere R. Smith Sr. Richard E. Trebat 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.39 $168,149 II [35]
1994 Recoup the Cash 4 Juvenal Lopez Diaz Jere R. Smith Sr. Richard E. Trebat 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.46 $163,500 III [36]
1993 Root Boy 5 Tommy Turner Louis D. Bernier Jr. Richard F. Blue Jr. 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.80 $114,000 III [37]
1992 Discover 4 Brent E. Bartram Steven C. Penrod Claiborne Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.14 $115,900 III [38]
1991 Black Tie Affair (IRE) 5 Juvenal Lopez Diaz Ernie T. Poulos Jeffrey Sullivan 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.80 $109,100 III [39]
1990 No Marker 6 Aaron Gryder Patricia L. Johnson Billy Ray Gowdy 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.80 $112,200 III [40][1]
1989 Air Worthy 4 Donald Joseph Soto William G. Huffman John Carlesimo 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.60 $112,700 III [41][1]
1988 Honor Medal 7 Luis Enrique Ortega Neil D. Drysdale Lettuce Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.60 $129,700 III [42][1]
1987 Red Attack 5 Jack Kaenel D. Wayne Lukas Pillar Stud, Inc. 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.20 $103,775 [43][1]
1986 Hopeful Word 5 K. Keith Allen Carl E. Bowman James Clifton, Robert Doll, Barrett Morris 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.40 $102,050 [44][1]
1985 Vanlandingham 4 Pat Day Claude R. McGaughey III Loblolly Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.80 $79,250 [45][1]
1984 Mythical Ruler 6 James McKnight Fred V. Wirth Albert Risen 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.60 $73,550 [46][1]
1983 Vodika Collins 5 Leroy Moyers Forrest Kaelin Milbert B. Collins 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.20 $54,750 [47][1]
1982 Vodika Collins 4 Thomas Barrow Forrest Kaelin Milbert B. Collins 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.80 $57,900 [48]

See also

References
  1. Churchill Downs (2019). "$600,000 Stephen Foster Presented by GE Appliances (Grade II)" (PDF). KentuckyDerby.com. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  2. King, Byron (2 June 2023). "Churchill Downs Suspends Meet; Dates to Shift to Ellis The ongoing meet at Churchill Downs had been scheduled to run through July 3". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  3. "Statistics - Stephen Foster Handicap". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  4. "Graded and Listed Races for 2019 Released". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  5. "American Graded Stakes Committee Releases 2023 Grades; The Stephen Foster Stakes is the only new grade 1 stakes for 2023". Bloodhorse.com. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. "Spring Stakes Schedule" (PDF). churchilldowns.com. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  7. "Stephen Foster Stakes Grade 1 (race 10)". Equibase. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  8. "Stephen Foster Stakes Grade 2 (race 10)". Equibase. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  9. "2021 Stephen Foster Stakes Grade 2 - (race 11)". Equibase. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  10. "2020 Stephen Foster Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  11. "2019 Stephen Foster Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  12. "2018 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  13. "2017 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  14. "2016 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  15. "2015 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  16. "2014 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  17. "2013 Stephen Foster H. Presented by Abu Dhabi Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  18. "2012 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  19. "2011 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  20. "2010 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  21. "2009 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  22. "2008 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  23. "2007 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  24. "2006 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 17 June 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  25. "2005 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 18 June 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  26. "2004 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 June 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  27. "2003 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 14 June 2003. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  28. "2002 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 15 June 2002. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  29. "2001 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 2 - (race 11)". Equibase. 16 June 2001. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  30. "2000 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 17 June 2000. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  31. "1999 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 June 1999. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  32. "1998 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 June 1998. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  33. "1997 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 June 1997. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  34. "1996 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 June 1996. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  35. "1995 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 17 June 1995. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  36. "1994 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 18 June 1994. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  37. "1993 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 19 June 1993. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  38. "1992 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 20 June 1992. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  39. "1991 Stephen Foster Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 22 June 1991. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  40. 1990 Stephen Foster Handicap - Race 9: held 23 June 1990
  41. 1989 Stephen Foster Handicap - Race 9: held 24 June 1989
  42. 1988 Stephen Foster Handicap - Race 9: held 25 June 1988
  43. 1987 Stephen Foster Handicap - Race 9: held 13 June 1987
  44. 1986 Stephen Foster Handicap - Race 9: held 14 June 1986
  45. 1985 Stephen Foster Handicap - Race 9: held 16 June 1985
  46. 1984 Stephen Foster Handicap - Race 8: held 25 August 1984
  47. 1983 Stephen Foster Handicap - Race 9: held 25 June 1983
  48. Inaugural 1982 Stephen Foster Handicap - Race 9: held 19 June 1982
    Sewers, Richard (20 June 1982). "Barrow's expertise still pays - Wins Foster 'Cap on Vodika Collins". The Courier-Journal. pp. 31, 33. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
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