Hit Show tops Blame on Foster Preview Day

With next month's enriched $2 million Stephen Foster (G1) expected to attract the likes of Sovereignty, White Abarrio, Magnitude, and Baeza, Saturday's $300,000 Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs would appear a nominal prep at best. Nonetheless, the nine-furlong fixture anchors a stakes-laden program billed as Stephen Foster Preview Day.

Hit Show, fifth to Magnitude in his title defense of the Dubai World Cup (G1) in late March, looks the horse to beat in the Blame. Rattle N Roll and Hall of Fame have back class, but the horses Hit Show might have to fear are a pair of stakes newcomers. Vibe was an impressive three-length allowance winner over a mile on Derby weekend, while Original Spin was sharp at a similar level at Keeneland in April.

Earlier in the card, a credentialed field of seven fillies and mares will travel 1 1/16 miles in the $300,000 Shawnee (G2). The field includes Breeders' Cup winners Splendora and Immersive, both of whom are coming off upset losses. Splendora was a dull fourth in the Derby City Distaff (G1) in early May, while Immersive, champion juvenile filly in 2024, should come on from her season-opening second in the Distaff (G3) at Aqueduct.

Gin Gin has fared poorly in two starts since taking the Spinster (G1) in October, while Majestic Oops enjoys enjoyed a productive winter at Oaklawn where she captured the Azeri (G2) and finished third in the Apple Blossom H. (G1).

Lagynos rides a three-stakes win streak into the $275,000 Arlington (G3) over 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Muniz Memorial (G2) victor was barely up in the April 30 Opening Verse S. over a shorter mile, with speedball Quatrocento and Minaret Station beaten a length or less. Horse-for-the-course Brilliant Berti and 2025 Arlington winner Mercante add depth to an impressively competitive field.

The $275,000 Mint Julep (G3) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf appears a good spot for Proctor Street to bounce back from recent thirds in the Hillsborough (G2) and Modesty (G2). Medoro, who missed by less than a length in the Jenny Wiley (G1) last time, and the 2025 Mint Julep one-two Pin Up Betty and Charlene's Dream also oppose.

The $275,000 Aristides (G3) for older sprinters over six furlongs features a rematch between Mad House and Roll On Big Joe, the recent one-two in the Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3) at Oaklawn. Durante was victorious in the John A. Nerud (G3) at Aqueduct on May 9, while Grade 3 scorer Cornucopian will appreciate the drop in class after coming in fifth in the Churchill Downs (G1).

The $275,000 Regret (G3), for three-year-old fillies at nine furlongs on the turf, features a rematch between four fillies who competed in the May 1 Edgewood (G2). Tam Tam just missed winning that race by a head as a 20-1 shot, while the other three made belated rallies from far off the pace. Storm's Wake, who landed the Appalachian (G2) two back, finished fifth, while stakes winner Indigo Woods settled for sixth and Florida Oaks (G3) heroine Dandona eighth.

The $275,000 Audubon S., a nine-furlong grass test for three-year-olds, has as its leading contenders Black Gold S. runner-up Touch of Fire and Colonel Liam S. winner Thousandsticks. Touch of Fire enters off a come-from-behind allowance win at Keeneland, while Thousandsticks was significantly below par in the American Turf (G1) earlier this month.