Stephen Foster 2023: Field, post positions for next Saturday

Multiple graded-stakes winner Smile Happy drew post 5 and headlines an accomplished field of eight older horses who were entered for next Saturday’s 42nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes at Ellis Park.

Smile Happy won his second-career Grade 2 contest on Kentucky Oaks day when he powered home to a two-length score in the Alysheba (G2). As a 2-year-old Smile Happy was victorious in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) before he tested the road to the Kentucky Derby. The son of Runhappy finished eighth behind Rich Strike in the 2022 run for the roses.

Click here for Ellis Park entries and results.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Smile Happy’s 4-year-old résumé includes an allowance victory and a third-place finish in the Oaklawn Mile (G3). Jockey Corey Lanerie will have the mount in the Stephen Foster.

Smile Happy’s stablemate Rattle N Roll also was entered in the Stephen Foster. Also owned by the Mackin family’s Lucky Seven Stable, Rattle N Roll won the Blame Stakes (G3) this month in his most recent start. Prior to that 1 1/4-length score, Rattle N Roll was victorious in the Pimlico Special (G3) and Ben Ali Stakes (G3). Brian Hernandez Jr., who was aboard both Smile Happy and Rattle N Roll in their most recent starts, will ride Rattle N Roll from post 4.

Godolphin’s Grade 1 winner Proxy will ship to Ellis Park for the Stephen Foster. Trained by Mike Stidham, Proxy narrowly got by Last Samurai to win the Oaklawn Handicap (G3) in April. Among Proxy’s other accolades were a three-quarter-length win in last fall’s Clark (GI) at Churchill Downs. The well-traveled Proxy has five career wins from 16 starts and has banked earnings of $1,775,970. Joel Rosario will ride and break from the rail.

Steve Moger’s Stilleto Boy achieved Grade 1 glory two starts ago in the Santa Anita Handicap. The speedy son of Shackleford is based in California for trianer Ed Moger Jr. but has traveled to tracks throughout the country including Oaklawn, Prairie Meadows and Gulfstream Park. Stilleto Boy was the pacesetter in the Oaklawn Handicap but could not hold off Proxy and Last Samurai. Among the other notable victories in Stilleto Boy’s past performances were the 2021 Iowa Derby and the 2022 California Stakes (G2). Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux will make the journey from California to Henderson, Ky., for the mount and break from post 2.

West Will Power is another horse who could show speed in the Stephen Foster. Owned by Gary and Mary West and trained by Brad Cox, he dueled on the lead in the Alysheba but gave way late to Smile Happy. Prior to the Alysheba, West Will Power dominated six rivals by 4 3/4 lengths in the New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds. Jockey Flavien Prat will ride the six-time winner from post 6.

The Stephen Foster is a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. Run at 1 1/8 miles, it will go as race 10 of 11 at 5:26 p.m. EDT with a first post at 12:45 p.m. It is the centerpiece of six stakes next Saturday at Ellis Park. The others are the Fleur de Lis (G2), the Wise Dan (G2), the American Derby, the Kelly’s Landing and the Tepin.

Ellis Park, a century-old track that never has hosted a Grade 1 race, became the site for the Stephen Foster card after 12 racehorse deaths within a month led to a transfer of the last month of the current meet from Churchill Downs.