Mandaloun, Olympiad will lead loaded field in Stephen Foster
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Olympiad and Mandaloun head the prospective field for the Grade 2 Stephen Foster, one of six stakes set for the final Saturday card of the Churchill Downs spring meet.
A terrific Saturday of racing led by the $750,000 Foster anchors a busy closing weekend to the 42-day meet, highlighted by a showdown between the red-hot Olympiad and the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, Mandaloun.
Olympiad, trained by Bill Mott, is undefeated this year, winning his four starts by a combined 14 lengths and earning triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in each of them, all with Junior Alvarado aboard. His most recent win came as an odds-on favorite in the Grade 2 Alysheba on the May 6 Kentucky Oaks card.
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Mandaloun, granted his Derby victory via disqualification, will be making his first start since finishing a distant ninth in the Feb. 26 Saudi Cup for trainer Brad Cox.
“We’ve been pointing to this as his comeback for a while now,” Cox said. “I really like how he’s doing.”
Mandaloun, a 4-year-old Juddmonte Farms homebred, has had eight timed works since returning to serious training, the latest a five-furlong solo drill in 1:00.80 before dawn Saturday at Churchill. Florent Geroux has the mount.
At least seven older horses are expected for the Foster when Saturday entries are drawn Wednesday. Cox confirmed Monday that he also will run Caddo River, a romping winner of his last three starts. The rest of the field includes Americanrevolution, Last Samurai, Proxy, and Title Ready.
The Foster, a Win and You’re In event toward the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, will be the focus of a two-hour broadcast, 4-6 p.m. Eastern, on NBC.
The other Saturday stakes are the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis, the Kelly’s Landing, and three turf races – the Grade 2 Wise Dan, the American Derby, and the Tepin. The favorites for the Fleur de Lis are Shedaresthedevil and Pauline’s Pearl.
Closing day of the meet is Monday, July 4. The summer meet at Ellis Park in western Kentucky starts July 8.