Early Look: Smile Happy is 1 of 10 probables for Stephen Foster

Smile Happy, the multiple graded-stakes winner owned by the Mackin family’s Lucky Seven Stable, continues his preparation toward the Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes on Saturday, July 1, at Ellis Park and is likely to face nine rivals, according to the track’s racing office.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Smile Happy won last out in the Alysheba (G1), which was run May 5 on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs.

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Rattle N Roll, also owned by Lucky Seven and trained by McPeek, was listed as probable for the Stephen Foster. He has won three races in a row, all Grade 3s, including the Blame Stakes on June 3 at Churchill Downs.

Proxy, the 2022 Clark (G1) victor who won last out in the Oaklawn Handicap (G3), was among the nine probables. Racing for trainer Michael Stidham, the 5-year-old Godolphin homebred horse by Tapit is 9: 3-3-2 in the last 16 months.

According to racing officials at Ellis Park, the Stephen Foster’s other likely entrants include multiple graded-stakes winner Last Samurai, two-time Grade 2 victor West Will Power, Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Stilleto Boy, Louisiana Stakes (G3) victor Happy American, two-time Grade 3 runner-up Call Me Fast, Grade 3 victor Promise Keeper and Pimlico Special (G3) runner-up Speed Bias.

The Stephen Foster will be the first Grade 1 race ever run in the 100-year history of Ellis Park. Run at 1 1/8 miles, it is the centerpiece of a six-pack of stakes events next week at Ellis Park. The Fleur de Lis (G2), the Wise Dan (G2), the American Derby, the Kelly’s Landing and the Tepin are the other featured races on the July 1 program. Entries for all of these races will be drawn Saturday.