First Look: Churchill Downs and Woodbine lead 12 stakes

Third time's the charm?

After weather postponements pushed the Grade 3 Penn Mile and Penn Oaks through more schedule changes than a flight out of Chicago, Penn National finally gets its shot Friday to kick off a week loaded with 12 stakes.

The Stephen Foster (G1) anchors Saturday's Churchill Downs card, where 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan gets another chance to prove his worth against older horses. The Fleur de Lis (G2) brings back Thorpedo Anna as the talented filly looks to bounce back after her disappointing effort in the La Troienne (G1).

The rescheduled Penn Mile (G3) and Stephen Foster day at Churchill Downs highlight a packed week of stakes action across four tracks.

Friday

Penn Mile (G3), Penn National, 1 mile, turf, 3-year-olds

States' Rights broke his maiden at Keeneland in October, drawing off by 1 1/4 lengths in a turf maiden special weight. The 3-year-old son of Constitution has developed into a consistent performer in allowance company, finishing second in consecutive starts at Keeneland and Fair Grounds this year. The $350,000 yearling purchase shows five turf starts with one victory and three runner-up efforts. Mi Bago has three wins from six career turf starts, including recent stakes wins in the Colonel Liam at Gulfstream Park and the Pulpit at Gulfstream by five lengths. The son of Vekoma ended up fourth in the American Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs most recently after leading through the early stages.

Penn Oaks, Penn National, 1 mile, turf, fillies, 3-year-olds

Accent tries her first stakes after winning her lone start at Tampa Bay in April. The Chad Brown-trained filly overcame traffic trouble in her turf debut, surging from seventh to win by a neck. Love You Anyway comes in off her breakthrough maiden victory at Keeneland, where she scored by 2 3/4 lengths after settling in third. The George Arnold filly ran fifth in the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and third in her career debut at Gulfstream.

Saturday

Stephen Foster (G1), Churchill Downs, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone renew their rivalry, with Mystik Dan seeking to repeat his victory over Sierra Leone from last year's Kentucky Derby on this Churchill Downs main track. Mystik Dan comes fresh off a score in the Blame (G3) on May 31. The son of Goldencents came home second in the Lake Ouachita at Oaklawn. Sierra Leone heads into the race after a third-place effort in the New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds. The son of Gun Runner ended his 2024 campaign with a win in the Breeders' Cup Classic, bouncing back from his third in the Travers (G1) behind Fierceness and Thorpedo Anna.

Wise Dan (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 miles, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Mercante captured the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) at Turfway Park before his triumph in the Arlington (G3) on May 31. The 5-year-old gelding is 3-for-5 this year, including a runner-up effort in the Turf Classic (G1). Lagynos seeks his first victory since the Commonwealth Turf (G3) in October at Churchill Downs. The Steven Asmussen-trained colt has hit the board in five of his last six starts. The son of Kantharos looks to turn the tables on Mercante after finishing behind the son of Gun Runner in his previous start.

Fleur De Lis (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/8 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Thorpedo Anna came home a disappointing seventh in the La Troienne (G1) at Churchill Downs, her first career finish outside the money after capturing four straight graded-stakes victories, including the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn and Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar. Taxed bounced back in the La Troienne, finishing a hard-fought second after winning an allowance race at Oaklawn in March. The 5-year-old mare by Collected has shown consistent form with graded-stakes placings throughout her career.

Kelly's Landing, Churchill Downs, 6 1/2 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up

Booth enters with a dominant four-race win streak, including three consecutive graded-stakes victories. The 4-year-old son of Mitole took the Maryland Sprint (G3) by a length in May, posting a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form. Happy is a Choice brings multiple stakes placings, including a recent third-place effort in the Aristides (G3) at Churchill Downs. The 5-year-old Runhappy gelding posted his career-high 104 Beyer Speed Figure when winning the Louisville Thoroughbred Society in September.

Los Alamitos Derby, Los Alamitos, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds

Bob Baffert could send a potent duo led by Nevada Beach, who comes off a runner-up effort in the Affirmed at Santa Anita, where he finished 1 3/4 lengths behind Gaming. The 3-year-old colt broke his maiden in April with a 1-length victory over Rank. Tiz Secure won his maiden by 4 3/4 lengths in February before finishing fourth in the Pasadena. The son of Maximum Security ran third in an optional-claiming allowance race at Churchill Downs last time out.

Highlander (G2), Woodbine, 6 furlongs, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Old Chestnut claimed the Jacques Cartier (G3) in his most recent effort on May 31 at Woodbine over the same distance. The 8-year-old gelding ended up third at Gulfstream Park in March in an allowance. Playmea Tune is coming off a victory at Turfway Park in the Forego on Feb. 1. Before that the 5-year-old son of Macleans Music ended up fifth in the Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park in December.

Nassau (G2), Woodbine, 1 mile, turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Ready for Shirl comes off a third-place effort in the Belle Mahone (G3) at Woodbine. The 4-year-old filly by More Than Ready captured an allowance race at Gulfstream Park in January. Crevalle d'Oro arrives following an allowance victory at Woodbine last time out. The daughter of Constitution struggled in her previous two starts at Gulfstream Park but rebounded nicely in her return to the Woodbine turf course.

Marine (G3), Woodbine, 1 1/16 miles, synthetic, 3-year-olds

Megalodon won an allowance at Woodbine on May 31, rallying from sixth to win by two lengths. The 3-year-old colt broke his maiden in February at Turfway Park and wound up second in the Rushaway at Tampa Bay Downs in March. The son of Medaglia d’Oro finished a disappointing 11th in the American Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs. Dewolf ended up third in the Queenston at Woodbine and second in both the Coronation Futurity and Grey (G3) in the fall. The Kevin Attard-trained colt took the Bull Page in September.

Selene (G3), Woodbine, 1 1/16 miles, synthetic, fillies, 3-year-olds

Street Princess broke her maiden at Woodbine on May 17, leading gate to wire. The Kevin Attard runner made her debut in 2024, finishing eighth, before breaking through impressively in her recent start. Ella It Is captured an allowance race by 3 3/4 lengths on June 1. The Matt Casse filly has compiled stakes placings in the South Ocean and Victorian Queen in the fall at Woodbine.

Dominion Day (G3), Woodbine, 1 1/8 miles, synthetic, 4-year-olds and up

Classic Mo Town won the Eclipse (G2) on May 31, capturing his first graded stakes win with a determined stretch drive at Woodbine. The 5-year-old added a stakes placing in the Valedictory (G3) in December. Essex Serpent comes in from a dominant allowance score on May 10, setting the pace and drawing off by five lengths for trainer Mark Casse. The 4-year-old endured disappointing efforts in the 2024 Canadian Triple Crown, finishing 10th in the King's Plate after setting pace before weakening, then 10th in the Prince of Wales after losing ground in the stretch.