Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade 1)

THERE was a surprise but convincing winner of the Grade 1 $1million Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs last Saturday when Spendthrift Farm’s Kingsbarns proved too good for graded stakes winners Pyrenees, Skippylongstocking and the favourite First Mission, and recorded his first top-level victory.

The Uncle Mo colt had been on the edge of the top rank as a three-year-old and won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby before a 14th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. The win earned him an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Despite drifting from his 6/1 morning odds, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt put up a fine performance here. Fourth early under Luis Saez, he settled two lengths off the pace of First Mission, on easy fractions to 48.38secs for a half mile. On the turn, with Skippylongstocking moving to the leader, Kingsbarns made his move into third.

Kingsbarns then took command early in the straight and pulled away for a two and a half-length victory over Pyrenees, completing the nine furlongs on a fast track in 1m 48.09secs.

Kingsbarns was reversing places with the Cherie DeVaux-trained Pyrenees who had edged him in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special Stakes last month at Pimlico.

Appeal to breeders

A delighted Ned Toffey, general manager at Spendthrift Farm, was quoted by BloodHorse: “The Grade 1, the fact that he’s by Uncle Mo; he’s out of a Tapit mare. He’s got so many of the pieces that you need to fill that résumé out to make him appeal to breeders.”

Kingsbarns’ other starts in 2024 had each resulted in victories: an over three-length triumph in the April in the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland after a half-length triumph in a March allowance race at Gulfstream Park.

The colt was an $800,000 purchase by Spendthrift Farm at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream (2yo) sale in March 2022 from pinhooker Tom McCrocklin.

Brad Cox had no excuses for Godolphin’s favourite First Mission, beaten over three lengths in fourth. “He didn’t respond when the winner came up to him. That’s it,” he said.

DESPITE disappointing performances in the European classics and at Royal Ascot, Charlie Appleby’s US team picked up another convincing win at Churchill Downs last Saturday.

With Flavien Prat up, the five-year-old Sea The Stars gelding Ottoman Fleet proved far too good for five rivals in the $465,000 Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes, leading from the first turn and never facing a serious challenger.

Prat never had to get serious on Ottoman Fleet and as challenger Johny’s Fireball dropped away, Ottoman Fleet opened a lead and coasted home in front by a length and a half, finishing the mile and half a furlong in 1m41.26secs.

Chasing the Crown, second to Ottoman Fleet in their last race, the Grade 3 Arlington Stakes, put in a late bid but was second again.

“We sort of found ourselves on the lead and just went on with it. He was travelling so nicely that I just let him keep doing it on the front end. Turning for home he still had a lot left in the tank to kick clear at the wire,” Prat said.

Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin’s American operations, said Ottoman Fleet will head to Saratoga to join the Godolphin team there for a late summer campaign.

THE New York Racing Association this week announced that its winter racing at Belmont Park will be exclusively on a new all-weather Tapeta track, currently being construction and expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025, with Belmont expected to re-open in 2026.

NYRA said shifting from dirt to the all-weather in the winter months will enhance equine safety and provide additional opportunities.

“At its core, our vision for the new Belmont Park is centred around modernizing racing and training facilities in ways that will ensure the sport’s continued success and future growth,” Dave O’Rourke, NYRA president and CEO was quoted by BloodHorse.

“NYRA has closely tracked the evolution and application of synthetic surfaces, and the relevant data unequivocally supports a shift to the all-weather surface during the winter months.

“Together with the renovated main track and two new turf courses, Belmont Park will provide a multitude of quality options for both training and racing throughout the year,” he added.

The plans did not meet with full approval with leading owner Mike Repole posting on the stable’s X account -

There is NOT 1 owner, trainer or gambler that is for a tapeta ONLY winter racing at Belmont. We all wanted BOTH a dirt surface and a tapeta surface. We were asked, polled and not listened too.

Repole Stable will NOT be running any horses for the winter meet of 2026.

Racing writer RonMoquett also commented on X - The only thing changing to synthetic accomplishes longterm is to confuse the breeder, buyer and player while breeding soft horses for nerf tracks.