First Mission is on top

Godolphin’s talented homebred First Mission, an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, headlines a competitive field of nine older horses entered for Saturday’s 43rd running of the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs. Carded as Race 11 of 12, the Stephen Foster is the highlight of a stakes-filled program at Churchill Downs that also includes the $500,000 Fleur de Lis (G2); $500,000 Wise Dan (G2); $250,000 American Derby (listed); $250,000 Kelly’s Landing (listed); and $250,000 Tepin (listed). The first post is at 12:45 p.m. EDT, and the field for Stephen Foster will go to post at 6:03 p.m.

Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Stephen Foster is the marquee race of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet following Kentucky Derby Week. The Stephen Foster also is a Breeders’ Cup win-and-you’re-in race, with the winner earning a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar with a free automatic entry to the race.

First Mission, a 4-year-old son of Street Sense, is based locally for trainer Brad Cox. The five-time winner has an impressive resume with other graded stakes scores in the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park. First Mission will be ridden in the Stephen Foster by Florent Geroux out of post No. 2.

Another talented runner in Saturday’s race is Daniel Alonso’s eight-time winner Skippylongstocking, who entered the Stephen Foster following a two-length score in the Oaklawn Handicap on April 20. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Skippylongstocking was highly regarded from a young age. As a 3-year-old, the son of Exaggerator won the West Virginia Derby (G3) and Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3). Last year, Skippylongstocking tallied graded stakes scores in the Challenger Stakes (G3) and Charles Town Classic (G2). To begin his 5-year-old season, Skippylongstocking had a troubled journey in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and pulled up halfway through the race. However, Skippylongstocking returned six weeks later and defended his title in the Challenger Stakes before his victory in the Oaklawn Handicap. Jockey Jose Ortiz will have the mount in the Stephen Foster from post 9.

The Stephen Foster field also includes trainer Todd Pletcher’s duo of 2023 Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Kingsbarns and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) runner-up Dreamlike; Winchell Thoroughbreds’ 2023 Travers (G1) runner-up Disarm; Alexandres’ multiple graded stakes winner Il Miracolo; and Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) winner Steal Sunshine.