First Look: Stephen Foster leads weekend stakes at 4 tracks

The Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Ellis Park on Saturday features a rematch between Stilleto Boy and Proxy against a strong field.

Also at Ellis, A Mo Reay looks to return to her winning ways in the Fleur de Lis (G2), and Fort Bragg is expected to return for Bob Baffert in the Dwyer (G3) at Belmont Park.

Here's an early look at the fields.

Saturday

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

Stilleto Boy and Proxy meet again after they beat each other in their last two races. Stilleto Boy won the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) with Proxy second by a neck in March, and Proxy won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in April with Stilleto Boy in third by a head and a nose. Rattle N Roll is pursuing his fourth straight graded win, and stablemate Smile Happy beat a tough field in the Alysheba (G2) last out.

Fleur de Lis (G2), Ellis Park, 1 1/8 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

A Mo Reay looks to bounce back from her fourth-place finish in the La Troienne (G1), which broke a three-stakes win streak. Royal Take Charge won her first career start in November and steps up to graded company after winning two of three this year. Pauline’s Pearl started the year with a win in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) but then was seventh in the Beholder Mile (G1) and sixth in the La Troienne.

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

Set Piece and Get Smokin finished 1-2, a length apart, last out in the Arlington (G3). It was the second start of the year for Set Piece, who was third in the Opening Verse at Churchill Downs in May. Camp Hope broke a five-race winless streak dating back more than a year with a score in an optional-claiming allowance at Churchill on June 5.

John A. Nerud (G2), Belmont Park, 7 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up

Zozos was listed as a probable here, but he was entered in the listed Hanshin Stakes at Ellis Park on Sunday. He’s 2-for-3 this year after winning the Knicks Go Overnight on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Weyburn won the Sir Shackleton at Gulfstream before his third-place finish in the Westchester (G3).

Dwyer (G3) Belmont Park, 1 mile, 3-year-olds

Fort Bragg is back with Bob Baffert after finishing second by a neck last out in the Pat Day Mile (G2) for Tim Yakteen. Joey Freshwater won the Bay Shore (G3) at Aqueduct in April but is 0-for-2 at Belmont since.

Delaware Oaks (G3), Delaware Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies

Miracle has finished in the money in six of seven starts, including a second last out in the Bouwerie Stakes at Belmont Park. Promiseher America won the Gazelle (G3) before her 14th-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks.

Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3), Delaware Park, 1 3/8 miles (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Miss Yearwood has won her last two starts, most recently the listed Keertana at Churchill Downs ahead of two others entered here. Ever Summer won her only start this year, an allowance at this distance on the Belmont turf.

Probables were not available for Woodbine’s weekend graded stakes, the Highlander (G2), Nassau (G2), Dominion Day (G3), Marine (G3), and Selene (G3), all on Saturday.