Majestic Harbor sharp in advance of Stephen Foster
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Gallant Stables’ 8-year-old veteran Majestic Harbor is going into Saturday night’s $500,000 Stephen Foster (Grade I), run at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up, “guns ablaze” according to trainer Paul McGee, who is looking for back-to-back graded stakes wins at Churchill Downs after winning the Alysheba (GII) on the May 6 Kentucky Oaks undercard.
“That Alysheba was one of the better races of his career,” McGee said. “So obviously his form cycle is really good. He does love this track. He had a bullet breeze the other day and a nice gallop this morning. (Jockey) Corey (Lanerie) was on him the other day and he really liked the way he went so we’re going in with a lot of confidence.
“It doesn’t hurt my feelings that it looks like a relatively lighter field. You have to think that the Brooklyn and Met Mile might have taken some horses away which is really good for us, but he’s coming off of a big win in the Alysheba and it’s the same racetrack, bumped up to a Grade I. We like our spot.”
BRADESTER JOINS FOSTER FIELD; EFFINEX GETS ACCLIMATED TO CHURCHILL SURFACE
Joseph Sutton’s Bradester, who was previously not listed as a probable starter for Saturday evening’s $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I), was entered for the 1 1/8-mile event which is one of five stakes races on the Downs After Dark program.
“It’s a small field for a Grade I and he likes the Churchill Downs track,” said trainer Eddie Kenneally. “He seems to be doing really well. He likes to be close to the lead but he doesn’t have to be up front.”
Meanwhile, odds-on favorite for the Stephen Foster Effinex galloped 1 ¼ miles over the Churchill Downs main track and schooled at the starting gate on Thursday morning.
“He went over the track really well and feels good,” said assistant trainer Kent Sweezey. “He gave a little squeal when he backed out of the gate which he doesn’t usually do, but that’s a good sign and means he’s feeling good.”
The Stephen Foster Handicap field from the rail out (with jockeys, assigned weights and morning line odds): International Star (Florent Geroux, 116 pounds, 6-1), Bradester (Joe Bravo, 116, 5-1); Effinex (Gary Stevens, 122, 1-1); Majestic Harbor (Corey Lanerie, 118, 5-1); El Kabeir (Ricardo Santana Jr., 115, 12-1); Are You Kidding Me (Julien Leparoux, 118, 10-1); and Eagle (Brian Hernandez Jr., 117, 6-1).
Source: Churchill Downs
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