What to watch for on Churchill's Stephen Foster Handicap night

A Triple Crown-winning weekend makes for a tough act to follow, but first in 2015, and again this year, Churchill Downs is poised to do so well with its Stephen Foster Handicap card.

First, the stakes schedule:

Grade 3, $100,000 Matt Winn Stakes (7:57 p.m. ET) — 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles

Grade 2, $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes (8:30 p.m. ET) — 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf

Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur De Lis Handicap (9:05 p.m. ET) — Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles

Grade 1, $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (9:39 p.m. ET) — 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles

Grade 3, $100,000 Regret Stakes (10:11 p.m. ET) — Fillies, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles

Now, here’s what to watch for:

Justify will be on parade

Similar to when American Pharoah completed his Triple Crown sweep three years ago, Justify will walk over on the main track before paying a visit to the paddock and winner’s circle from 6:45-7:15 p.m. ET. His connections will also be on hand to receive their engraved Kentucky Derby trophies.

Derby runners past abound

Three former Derby runners, all from the 2017 edition, will square off in the Foster. Irish War Cry won the Pimlico Special (G3) last out; fan favorite (and one-eyed) Patch returned from a layoff to post a determined allowance win; and Lookin At Lee won in similar company by sitting closer to the pace on this year’s Derby undercard.

Irish War Cry is an especially curious case. Trainer Graham Motion said the colt dealt with “thumps,” an electrolyte imbalance, while stabled in South Florida this spring.

“One of the things I looked at while considering the Stephen Foster was it being run at night,” Motion said. “I think the cooler temperatures really help this horse. I’ve felt pretty strongly about that and knew we’d always want to get him back into a Grade 1. It looks to be a pretty tough race, but I think it’s the right match.”

These horses could be any kind

None of those three just mentioned, despite handicappers’ familiarity with them, should go as the Foster favorite. Expect that honor to be held by Backyard Heaven. Chad Brown trains the son of Tizway for Ken and Sarah Ramsey. Last out, the 4-year-old took Churchill’s Alysheba (G2) in his fourth career start. The colt has won all but his debut and could prove to be one of the nation’s top older horses Saturday.

Another horse could emerge in his division when Ax Man headlines the Matt Winn. The Bob Baffert-trained homebred made Derby lists after his Jan. 1 debut win but chased the pace second out in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) and received time off after that. He has won both starts since, with the son of Misremembered a 6 3/4-length winner of Pimlico’s Sir Barton Stakes a race before Justify won the Preakness.

World Approval looks to rebound

The Breeders’ Cup Mile and Eclipse Award winner didn’t quite look his old self but managed to win in Grade 3 company to open his 6-year-old season. World Approval regressed from there, never threatening while fifth on a West Coast trip in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1). Churchill’s Wise Dan (G2) — formerly known as the Firecracker — should prove whether the gray gelding still has it. He’ll carry five pounds more than most others in the field but is the classiest runner in the group of eight.

Spotlight on the Twin Spires

Two events on Saturday’s card are part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. The Foster grants a bid to the Classic and the Fleur De Lis (G2) to the Distaff. Of course, the championships return to Churchill Downs Nov. 2-3 for the first time since 2011.

NBC Sports Network will broadcast the stakes action live from 8:30-10 p.m. ET. Expect to see plenty about Justify, too.