6/25/26 Barn Notes
Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty is the 6-5 program favorite for the $2 million G1-Stephen Foster Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs.
The Stephen Foster, a nine-furlong event for older horses, drew seven entrants, including the top two finishers from the $1.25 million G2-Oaklawn Handicap April 18 in White Abarrio and Sovereignty and two other Oaklawn stakes winners in Magnitude and Willy D’s.
Probable post time for the Stephen Foster, the 11th of 12 races, is 5:14 p.m. CDT. The Stephen Foster is a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Although seven horses are entered in the Stephen Foster, Oaklawn winners Forged Steel and Navajo Warrior (both trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.) will reportedly be scratched.
Both White Abarrio, the 3-1 second choice in the program, and Sovereignty will be starting for the first time since the Oaklawn Handicap. White Abarrio, also trained by Joseph, beat Sovereignty by two lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr., who retains the mount. The Oaklawn Handicap was the 4-year-old debut for Sovereignty, who was surprisingly on the lead under regular rider Junior Alvarado.
Magnitude, in his 4-year-old debut, was a sharp 3 ¾-length winner of the $500,000 G3-Razorback Handicap Feb. 28 for Steve Asmussen, the track’s all-time leading trainer. Magnitude (7-2) won the $12 million G1-Dubai World Cup March 28 in the United Arab Emirates in his last start.
Willy D’s (20-1) hasn’t started since winning the 8 ½-furlong $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes May 2 at Oaklawn for trainer Mike Maker. Grade 1 winner Baeza, the fifth scheduled Stephen Foster starter, and Sovereignty are both conditioned by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Oaklawn’s leading trainer in 1986.
All Stephen Foster starters carry 124 pounds.
Nu What’s New Returns Sunday
The speedy Nu What’s New, a three-time winner this season at Oaklawn, is entered in the one-mile $300,000 G3-Hanshin Stakes Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Jimmy DiVito, Nu What’s New scored his biggest career victory to date in the $500,000 G3-Oaklawn Mile March 28. The gelding exits a fifth-place finish in the G2-Alysheba Stakes May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Nu What’s New won his first two starts this season at Oaklawn by a combined 19 ½ front-running lengths.
Millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Coal Battle and Neoequos, third behind Nu What’s New in the Oaklawn Mile, are also entered in the Hanshin Stakes.
Coal Battle is the final scheduled mount for retiring jockey Corey Lanerie, who has more than 5,000 career victories.
Finish Lines
Oaklawn-raced C. J's Storm ($18.20) won the six-furlong $100,000 Nobody Listens Handicap for Indiana-breds, 3 and up, Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. It marked the first career North American stakes victory for jockey Amir Mendoza, the leading apprentice rider at the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meeting. C. J’s Storm is co-owned/trained by Oaklawn regular John Haran. … Oaklawn-raced Lets Shakeit Sugar is the 9-5 program favorite for the six-furlong $75,000 Bob Bryant Stakes for 3-year-old Iowa-bred fillies Friday at Prairie Meadows. … Oaklawn-raced Regaled and multiple Oaklawn allowance winner In Just My Heels are entered in the $500,000 G2-Fleur de Lis Stakes for older fillies and mares at nine furlongs Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Fleur de Lis is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Distaff Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Cornucopian is the even-money program favorite for Churchill’s $275,000 G3-Bango Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 6 ½ furlongs Saturday. Oaklawn stakes winner Gold Sweep and Oaklawn-raced U Devil You are also entered. … Oaklawn-raced Woodstock is entered in the $275,000 Tepin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at one-mile on the turf Saturday at Churchill Downs. … Oaklawn-raced 3-year-old Blackout Time is scheduled to face older runners for the first time in Saturday’s fourth race at Churchill Downs, an allowance race for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. Blackout Time ran in Oaklawn’s final two Kentucky Derby qualifying races, finishing fourth in the $1 million G2-Rebel Stakes March 1 and fifth in the $1.5 million G1-Arkansas Derby March 28. … Oaklawn allowance winner Indy Bay is the 7-5 program favorite for Gulfstream’s $75,000 Musical Romance Handicap for fillies and mares Saturday at Gulfstream Park. … Multiple Oaklawn winners Faust and Hymn are entered in Laurel Park’s $175,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs Saturday. … Oaklawn stakes winner Benedetta and Oaklawn-raced Jody’s Pride are entered in the $125,000 Alma North Stakes Saturday at Laurel. … Oaklawn allowance winners Jokestar and Duke of Duval are entered in the $125,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes Saturday at Laurel. … Oaklawn-raced Reagan's Flame is the 7-2 second choice in the program for the $150,000 G3-Royal North Stakes at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf Saturday at Woodbine. … Oaklawn-raced Lake Louise is entered in Woodbine’s $150,000 G3-Selene Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles over the synthetic surface Saturday. … Oaklawn stakes winner Oscar’s Hope, Oaklawn allowance winner Spun D M C and Oaklawn maiden special graduate American Man are entered in the seven-furlong $250,000 G3-Maxfield Stakes Sunday at Churchill Downs.
