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Rachel Alexandra assigned 118 for Stephen Foster Reigning Horse of the Year RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) has been assigned 118 pounds by Churchill Downs racing secretary Ben Huffman for next Saturday's $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at 1 1/8 miles. The Stephen Foster is one of four races next Saturday mentioned by Rachel Alexandra's owner Jess Jackson as the next start for the four-year-old filly. Also possible for Rachel Alexandra is the $200,000 Fleur de Lis H. (GII) over 1 1/8 miles at Churchill for which she was assigned high weight of 124 pounds, the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) at Belmont Park and the Obeah S. (G3) at Delaware Park. QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality), winner of the Metropolitan H. (G1) on Memorial Day at Belmont Park, was assigned top weight in the Stephen Foster of 127 pounds. However, Quality Road will bypass the Stephen Foster as likely will second high weight RAIL TRIP (Jump Start) (122 pounds), who is targeting the Californian S. (G2) at Hollywood Park next Saturday. Three horses considered as probable for the Stephen Foster were assigned 120 pounds: ARSON SQUAD (Brahms), winner of the Alysheba S. (G3) and Skip Away S. (G3) in his past two starts; BLAME (Arch), winner of the William Donald Schaefer S. (G3) in his 2010 debut after closing 2009 with victories in the Fayette S. (G2) and Clark H. (G2); and GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa), winner of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) in his most recent start. Other probables include BATTLE PLAN (Empire Maker) (119), winner of four consecutive starts including the New Orleans Handicap (G2) in his most recent outing; defending Stephen Foster champion MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) (116), and GIANT OAK (Giant's Causeway) (115), who was fourth to Blame in last fall's Clark H. Blame is scheduled to work Sunday morning at 8 a.m (EDT) at Keeneland and Giant Oak is slated for a Churchill Downs work after the morning renovation break with Shaun Bridgmohan, who has ridden Giant Oak in his past two starts in Kentucky, a third-place finish in the Ben Ali S. (G3) at Keeneland in April and last year's Clark. Scheduled to arrive Monday for the Stephen Foster are DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) (116), winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in his most recent start, and multiple Grade 3 winner HONEST MAN (Unbridled's Song) (115). Entries for the Stephen Foster, Fleur de Lis and three other graded stakes for three-year-olds -- the Northern Dancer (G3), Regret (G3) and Jefferson Cup (G3) -- will be taken Wednesday.
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