Stephen Foster 2020: Odds, Picks & Free PPs
With four graded stakes to finish off the card on the penultimate day of the abridged Churchill Downs Spring Meet, the Saturday feature is the 2020 Stephen Foster (G2).
Complete with a purse of $500,000, the Foster drew a reputable field of eight, highlighted by 2019 Grade 1 Clark winner Tom's d'Etat. The runner-up from last November's Clark is also represented in the Foster field by Owendale.
Throw By My Standards (a winner of five of his last six races) into the mix, and the Foster comes up strong with fellow multiple graded stakes winner Silver Dust and graded stakes winner Multiplier heading to the gate.
RELATED: Stakes Saturday: Derby prep, Grade 1 among 10 stakes on tap
Contested as the tenth race on an 11-race card, the Foster is slated to go 1 1/8 miles on the main track with post time at approximately 5:47 p.m. Eastern.
Find everything you need for the 2020 Stephen Foster below, including free past performances, expert picks, multi-race wagering suggestions and undercard stakes previews.
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As always, Horse Racing Nation provides free past performances on racing's biggest days. Click here for daily free Churchill Downs past performances. You can also find free PPs for big weekend races by clicking the link to our Free PPs page.
Horse Racing Nation's staff and regular contributors give their 2020 Stephen Foster picks. Tom's d'Etat is the obvious consensus pick to win, but each expert has a unique take on how to wager on the Stephen Foster. Which longshots do the experts like best?
Jarrod Horak on the Grade 3 Regret
Taking a look at Saturday's finale, HRN handicapper Jarrod Horak provides Analysis and wagering strategies for Churchill's Regret Stakes.
Pletcher has four Churchill stakes runners
Trainer Todd Pletcher will be well-represented on Saturday at Churchill Downs, as he has a runner in each Churchill stakes from the Bashford Manor to the Regret. See which horse he will saddle for each of the final four races on the day.
Stakes Previews
Race 8: Grade 3 Bashford Manor (4:43 p.m.)
Race 9: Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap (5:15 p.m.)
Race 10: Grade 2 Stephen Foster (5:47 p.m.)
Race 11: Grade 3 Regret (6:20 p.m)
G M B Racing’s 2019 Clark (G1) winner Tom’s d’Etat was installed as the even-money morning line favorite for Saturday’s $500,000 Stephen Foster (G2) – a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event for the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster is the headliner of a stakes quartet on Saturday’s 11-race program. The day of racing also will feature the $200,000 Fleur de Lis (G2), $100,000 Regret (G3) and $100,000 Bashford Manor (G3). First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Stephen Foster is slated at 5:47 p.m.
Along with the spectacular action on the racetrack, bettors will have large wagering pools to tackle including a $250,000-guaranteed Late Pick 5 pool. The 50-cent bet will begin in Race 7 (4:12 p.m.) – a 5 ½ furlong turf allowance event. The next four races will be the Bashford Manor, Fleur de Lis, Stephen Foster and Regret, respectively.
For free past performances, click here.
Tom’s d’Etat (17-10-2-1—$1,326,572) has won four of his last five starts including a 3 ¼-length score in last year’s $600,000 Clark (G1). The now 7-year-old son of Smart Strike enters Saturday’s Stephen Foster following a hard-fought victory in the April 11 $150,000 Oaklawn Mile.
“I’m not worried about he’s going to show up in the Foster; he runs very well fresh,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “This race will feed us into the rest of the year, which looks like it’s setting up well with the schedules in New York and elsewhere. … This is his home track and has a visual of it in front of his stall, sort of like Blame did.”
Stall is not a stranger to success in the Stephen Foster. He won the race in 2010 with the aforementioned Blame prior to his victory over Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Blame would go on to become the 2010 Champion Older Male.
“We’re trying to get (Tom’s d’Etat) to the Blame level,” Stall said. “Both of these horses have a ton of class and ability.”
One of the challenges facing handicappers for Saturday’s Stephen Foster is the probable pace scenario. The likely frontrunner in the race could be the graded stakes placed Pirate’s Punch. Ridden by Mike Smith, Pirate’s Punch has secured the early lead in nine of his last 11 races. A horse that could be tracking from just off the early lead could be Allied Racing Stable’s multiple Grade 2 winner By My Standards.
“It’s going to be an interesting setup,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “Pirate’s Punch looks like he could be the controlling pace of the race. What’s interesting is the horse from the rail (Fearless) who has shown speed back in his form in his maiden race and second start. Since then, he’s sort of been relegated off the pace.
“(By My Standards) has shown every positive development from his three-year-old season to this year. He’s a very talented racehorse and we saw that with his strong campaign last year. He’s just bigger and stronger this year.”
Both the Stephen Foster and the Fleur de Lis will be broadcast live on NBC from 5-6 p.m.