Sovereignty tops epic renewal of Stephen Foster

The buildup to the $2 million Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs on Saturday has lasted for more than a month. And now it's nearly time for the horses to do the figurative talking.

The one bettors expect to be heard from most is reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty, last year's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and three-year-old champion. Although beaten in his comeback race on April 18, the Oaklawn H. (G2), he was out of his element setting a contested pace and is sure to get a more favorable trip in the Foster, a 1 1/8-mile "Win & You're In" Challenge race for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.

The beneficiary of Sovereignty's unusual Oaklawn tactics was White Abarrio, who has won the country's richest events for older horses at one time or another. However, the seven-year-old veteran has been rather enigmatic during the course of his career, and certainly hasn't carried his best form to Churchill Downs in prior visits to Louisville.

Baeza, third to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont (G1) last year, is now housed in the same barn as the champion, Bill Mott having taken over from the late John Shirreffs earlier this year. In his debut for Mott, the May 1 Alysheba (G2), the big colt rallied to finish a close third after a compromised beginning. Nine furlongs will be far more suitable to the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner. 

Those three figure to be in chase mode with seemingly plenty of speed entered. Magnitude had no answer for Sovereignty when they last met in the Travers (G1), but has bounced back impressively with successive victories in the Clark (G2), Razorback H. (G3) and Dubai World Cup (G1), the latter over Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Forever Young.

Lesser talents with early foot include White Abarrio's stablemate, Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) winner Forged Steel, and the Mike Maker-trained Willy D's, who is cross-entered to a race at Lone Star Park on Saturday. Navajo Warrior won the Pimlico Special (G3) last month in gate-to-wire fashion, but is unlikely to match the foot, early or late, of the leading contenders.

The Foster highlights the 12-race, penultimate program of the Churchill spring meet.