Sierra Leone among seven in deep Stephen Foster

After the concurrent losses by Fierceness and White Abarrio in the Metropolitan H. (G1) earlier this month, the leadership of the older male dirt division appears wide open. While that might not be settled before the Whitney (G1) in early August at the earliest, a solid candidate figures to emerge from a deep renewal of the $1 million Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Sierra Leone, the 2024 champion three-year-old colt, was widely expected to be a significant player for division honors. He might still be, but will have to bounce back to form in the Foster after a season-opening third in the March 27 New Orleans Classic (G2), a relatively dull performance by his standards.

The 1 1/8-mile Foster is a Breeders' Cup Challenge prep for the Classic (G1) at Del Mar, a race Sierra Leone won with style last fall to secure the three-year-old title over Fierceness.

Mystik Dan, who beat Sierra Leone by a nose in last year's Kentucky Derby (G1), ran his best race since that classic score in the May 31 Blame (G3), parlaying a ground-saving trip into his third success in four attempts under the Twin Spires.

Mindframe, runner-up in last year's Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1), stretches back out after a pair of one-turn scores in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) and Churchill Downs (G1), the latter over seven furlongs in a blanket finish. He's trained by Todd Pletcher, who recorded his first Stephen Foster success last season with Kingsbarns.

First Mission and Skippylongstocking are both veterans of the 2024 Foster. First Mission finished fourth as the odds-on choice 12 months ago, but exits a strong win in the Oaklawn H. (G2) over defending titlist Skippylongstocking. The latter franked the form with a victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) at Santa Anita last month.

In addition to First Mission, trainer Brad Cox also saddles Hit Show, who recorded a stunning upset over heavily favored Forever Young in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in early April. The allowance-class Ashcroft rounds out the Stephen Foster field.

Join us for our LIVE coverage during Stephen Foster Day as we include all the major stakes races at Churchill Downs for this Horse Racing Weekend on Saturday! Our LIVE coverage includes Churchill Downs expert picks, LIVE odds, exclusive interviews, and other horse racing news. Discover the thrill of Churchill Downs starting at 3:30 p.m. ET through the Stephen Foster (G1) at 6:03 p.m. ET.