Yoshida joins the fray for Churchill Downs' Stephen Foster

Trainer Bill Mott on Saturday told the NYRA Press Office, a day after watching Yoshida breeze a half mile in 49.64 seconds over Saratoga's training track, that the dual Grade 1 winner has a next race target.

Yoshida has joined the prospective field for Churchill Downs' Grade 2, $600,000 Stephen Foster, a June 15 feature that proves a "Win and You're In" bid to the Breeders' Cup Classic.

A son of Heart's Cry, 5-year-old Yoshida finished sixth in both his previous starts this season, first in the Pegasus World Cup Turf before the Dubai World Cup back on dirt. His Grade 1 scores in last year's Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) and Woodward Stakes (G1) came on multiple surfaces.

Yoshida concluded his season by finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic, a race that could be on his radar again.

"Yoshida is doing well," Mott said. "That was his second breeze back. He'll probably train up to the Stephen Foster."

Others so far probable for the 1 1/8-mile race are Quip, winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (G2), and Seeking the Soul, a Grade 1 winner over the surface who finished third last time in the May 3 Alysheba (G2).