Blame draws outside in Stephen Foster

Multiple Grade 2 winner BLAME (Arch) will bring a three-race winning streak

into the $600,000

Stephen

Foster H. (G1), including an excellent victory in the Clark H. (G2) at

Churchill Downs last fall, and rates as the horse to beat in Saturday's 1

1/8-mile event. However, the Al Stall Jr. runner didn't receive any favors in

the post position draw, receiving the far outside in a strong 11-horse field

that includes New Orleans H. (G2) winner BATTLE PLAN (Empire Maker), multiple

Grade 1 victor GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa), Alysheba S. (G3) hero ARSON SQUAD

(Brahms), Oaklawn H. (G2) conqueror DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) and defending

champion MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno).

Blame, who captured the Fayette S. (G2) at Keeneland prior to his head win in

the Clark, tuned up for the Foster with a sharp 1 1/2-length tally in the

William Donald Schaefer S. (G3) at Pimlico on May 15, and the four-year-old colt

owns a commendable overall record of 9-6-1-2. Garrett Gomez will retain the

mount on the 120-pound co-highweight.

General Quarters and Arson Squad will share 120-pound highweight duties. Tom

McCarthy's General Quarters posted a game neck win in the Woodford Reserve Turf

Classic (G1) last time out after recording three straight seconds in dirt stakes at Fair

Grounds, including the New Orleans. The classy gray colt will pick up a new rider in

Alex Solis. Arson Squad will enter on the upswing for Richard Dutrow, romping by

3 3/4 lengths in the Skip Away S. (G3) before an authoritative 2 1/4-length

decision in the April 30 Alysheba at Churchill. The multiple Grade 2-winning

millionaire will keep Paco Lopez in the saddle.

Duke of Mischief has been freshened off a 2 1/2-length victory in the April 3

Oaklawn H., and the David Fawkes pupil also captured the Ft. Lauderdale S. (G3)

earlier this season. Eibar Coa will be in to ride. Macho Again drew off to a

one-length win in the 2009 Foster and finished second in both the Whitney H.

(G1) and Woodward S. (G1) last season. The five-year-old gets in light at 116

pounds on Saturday due to unplaced efforts in his last three starts, including a

seventh in the Alysheba, and will look to rebound with regular rider Robby

Albarado.