Stephen Foster: Mandaloun tries to rebound vs. red-hot Olympiad
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It should be a scorcher Saturday at Churchill Downs – and that has nothing to do with summer weather.
Indeed, all the elements are in place for a sizzling renewal of the Grade 2 Stephen Foster. Mandaloun makes an eagerly awaited return to action when facing a red-hot Olympiad in the 41st Foster, a matchup further textured by the presence of several others with valid upset hopes.
“It’s a good one, for sure,” said Brad Cox, who will send out a revived Mandaloun for his first North American start since the colt was named in February as the official 2021 Kentucky Derby winner on the disqualification of Medina Spirit. “We’ll be leading him over there with plenty of optimism.”
The prestige of his Derby honor notwithstanding, Mandaloun will be challenged for favoritism by Olympiad as they head a field of seven older horses in the $750,000 Stephen Foster, a Win and You’re In event toward the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.
Olympiad has been simply sensational this year, winning all four starts by a combined 14 lengths, all with triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures. Trained by Bill Mott, the 4-year-old colt has employed a relentless stalking style in capturing the Grade 3 Mineshaft and Grade 2 New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds, and, most recently, the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill on the May 6 Kentucky Oaks undercard. Shortly after the Alysheba, the bay son of Speightstown was sent to train in the quiet environs of Saratoga, posting five workouts prior to arriving Tuesday at Churchill.
“His weight couldn’t be better and his works have all been very consistent,” said Riley Mott, who as the assistant trainer to his father helped to oversee the day-to-day training of Olympiad at Saratoga. “He’s a very uncomplicated horse to train and is a consummate professional. I think our entire team is excited to see how he performs against another strong group.”
Junior Alvarado, now a mainstay in the year-round riding colony at Gulfstream Park, will be in from Florida to ride Olympiad for Mott and the ownership group of LNJ Foxwoods, Grandview Equine, and Cheyenne Stable. Alvarado and Olympiad will break from post 3 in the 1 1/8-mile Foster, the focus of a two-hour NBC broadcast (4-6 p.m. Eastern).
First post for a 12-race Saturday card is 12:45 p.m., with the Foster going at 5:47 as race 10.
Mandaloun (post 6, Florent Geroux) has been a true standout for Juddmonte Farms, starting in early 2021 with a victory in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds. Nearly a year later, after back-to-back summer victories at Monmouth Park and as the Derby imbroglio continued, the Into Mischief colt registered a career-best 106 Beyer in winning his 4-year-old debut in the Jan. 22 Louisiana at Fair Grounds. He then threw in a clunker when shipped overseas to finish a far-back ninth in the $20 million Saudi Cup in late February.
“I think it’s reasonable to draw a line through the Saudi race,” said Cox. “We’re way past that now, anyway. He’s back to himself, really doing well. Now we get to run him over a track where he’s had success and out of his own stall.”
As good as the favorites look, the Foster is no two-horse race. Cox has a second contender in Caddo River (post 1, Ricardo Santana Jr.), who enters on a tear, while Americanrevolution (post 2, Luis Saez) and Proxy (post 5, Joel Rosario) both have racked up solid records and will attract their fair share of tote action for high-profile connections. Title Ready (post 4, Brian Hernandez Jr.) and Last Samurai (post 7, Jon Court) round out a terrific lineup.
Caddo River “earned his way into this,” said Cox, referring to three straight allowance romps, the latest with a 100 Beyer. “He’s really come around the way we thought he could.”
Americanrevolution was fourth as the 11-10 favorite four weeks ago in the Blame at Churchill in his first start since the New York-bred colt won the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct six months beforehand with a 105 Beyer.
The Blame “was maybe a better race for him than it looks on paper,” said his trainer, Todd Pletcher said. “I think he took all the worst of it off the layoff. He should be ready to move forward.”
The Foster, named for the legendary 19th-century songwriter, is the final leg in an all-stakes pick five (races 6-10). The preceding stakes are the Tepin (race 6, 3:23), American Derby (race 7, 3:55), Fleur de Lis (race 8, 4:35), and Kelly’s Landing (race 9, 5:16). There is no turf racing.
The Saturday forecast calls for a 60 percent rain chance and a high of 86.
Churchill closes the 42-day spring meet Monday, with live action on the Kentucky circuit resuming July 8 at Ellis Park.