newsline24

June 26 (UPI) — Saturday’s Stephen Foster program at Churchill Downs well could preview some of the big races at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Halloween weekend just down the road at Keeneland, including the Classic and the Distaff.

Woodbine’s weekend could include candidates for the King’s Plate, and/or Woodbine Oaks. Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park and Lone Star Park all are in summertime-mode action.

On the international scene, the winners of the English Derby and Oaks are back in action in the Irish equivalents but only one of them is the favorite.

The gates spring open and we’re off …

Classic

Saturday’s $2 million Grade I Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, couldn’t have drawn a much stronger field.

Sovereignty, the 6-5 morning-line favorite, won last year’s Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy and Travers. He finished second behind White Abarrio in his 2026 debut in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap.

White Abarrio, resurgent at age 7, won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2023 and returns to Churchill Downs for the first time since finishing 16th in the 2022 Derby.

Magnitude enters the Stephen Foster off a short rest after his victory in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 26. Forged Steel exits a win in the Grade II Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Navajo Warrior won the Pimlico Special in his last start.

Also in the Classic division:

Saturday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Dominion Day Stakes and $150,000 (Canadian) Marine Stakes for 3-year-olds, both on the Woodbine all-weather; Saturday’s $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby; and Saturday’s $100,000 Deputed Testamony at Laurel Park. The Marine is a key prep for the King’s Plate.

Distaff

Splendora, the reigning Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint champ, stretches out to 1 1/8 miles for Saturday’s $500,000 Grade II Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

The Bob Baffert trainee has won six of her last seven starts. but in her only previous 9-furlong effort, she finished second, beaten by 5 lengths, a year ago in the Grade II Santa Margarita. Nonetheless, she’s 4-5 favorite on the morning line.

Five of the eight fillies entered for Saturday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Selene Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the Woodbine all-weather are Ontario-breds and are eligible for the Woodbine Oaks.

Turf

Lagynos rides a five-race winning streak into Saturday’s $500,000 Grade II Wise Dan at Churchill Downs. The 5-year-old son of Kantharos finished third last year, beaten by less than a length. Dresden Row puts a three-race win streak of his own at risk in the 1 1/16-mile tilt.

Alpyland has five wins from 10 starts, exits a 4-length victory in the Penn Mile and rules as morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $275,000 American Derby at Churchill Downs.

Also Saturday on the courses they could eat: The $250,000 Texas Turf Classic at Lone Star Park, the $150,000 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park and the $125,000 Japan Racing Association Turf Cup at Laurel Park.

Filly & mare turf

Saturday’s stakes-packed Churchill Downs program offers the $275,000 Anchorage Stakes for 4-and-up distaffers and the $275,000, 1-mile Tepin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. In the latter, Ground Support makes her first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Also Saturday: The $150,000 Christiana for 3-year-old fillies at Delaware Park and the $125,000 Wasted Tears at Lone Star Park.

Turf sprint

Saturday’s $200,000 (Canadian) Grade II bet365 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine has a feisty field of seven and little to separate them.

Also on tap Saturday, both at Lone Star Park, are the $125,000 Grand Prairie Turf Sprint and the $125,000 Chicken Fried Stakes for fillies and mares.

Turf mile

Twelve entries were taken for Saturday’s $125,000 (Canadian) Grade III HPIbet Royal North Stakes at Woodbine at 7 1/2 furlongs. The favorites, both cross-border invaders, are the Miguel Clement-trained Ozara, up from Saratoga, and Reagan’s Flame from Saffie Joseph Jr.’s Kentucky-based string.

Sprint

Cornucopian, winner of the Grade III Aristides in his last start, is the even-money pick in Saturday’s $275,000 Bango Stakes at Churchill Downs. The field also includes Dr. Venkman, last seen finishing third in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Also: Saturday’s $100,000 Carry Back Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park and Saturday’s $175,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park.

Filly & mare sprint

The division offers two to watch, both Saturday: The $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the $125,000 Alma North at Laurel Park.

Juvenile / juvenile fillies

Sunday’s $225,000 Bashford Manor for 2-year-olds and $225,000 Debutante for 2-year-old fillies, both 6 furlongs at Churchill Downs, spark interest in the Breeders’ Cup 2-year-old program and next year’s Kentucky Derby and Oaks.

Around the world, around the clock

Ireland

Betfred Derby winner Christmas Day looks for the Derby Double in Sunday’s Group 1 Irish Derby at the Curragh, but he’s not the favorite. That role goes to Benvenuto Cellini, who was ruled a non-runner at Epsom when replays found he wasn’t afforded a fair start.

Both are trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore “lads.” Among them, O’Brien and sons Joseph Patrick and Donnacha account for eight of the 11 entries. The elder O’Brien has won the race 17 times, including the last three years with Auguste Rodin, Los Angeles and Lambourn.

The younger O’Briens gang up on Saturday’s Group 1 Pretty Polly for fillies and mares, sending out five of the 13, including the favorite and Betfred Oaks winner Thundering On.