Godolphin homebred First Mission, winner of the Alysheba S. (G2) in his last start, headlines a field of nine—all Kentucky-breds—entered in Saturday’s 43rd running of the $1 million Stephen Foster S. (G1) at Churchill Downs. The marquee race of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet following Kentucky Derby week, the Stephen Foster is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
First Mission, a 4-year-old son of Street Sense is a five-time winner. In addition to the Alysheba, he has annexed the Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland and the Essex H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Trained by Brad Cox, First Mission will be ridden by Florent Geroux.
Kentucky-bred Skippylongstocking enters the Stephen Foster off a two-length score in the Oaklawn H. in April. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Skippylongstocking won the West Virginia Derby (G3) and the Harlan’s Holiday S. (G3) at three. He has notched graded stakes scores in the Challenger S. (G3) the last two years at Tampa Bay Downs andhe also won the Charles Town Classic (G2) in 2023. Owned by Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking, a son of Exaggerator, has banked more than $2.2 million. He was bred in Kentucky by Brushy Hill LLC. Jose Ortiz will ride.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Kingsbarns and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) runner-up Dreamlike. Kingsbarns, bred in Kentucky by Parks Investment Group, is owned by Spendthrift Farm. The son of Uncle Mo most recently finished second in the Pimlico Special (G3) after winning the Ben Ali S. (G2) at Keeneland in April. Dreamlike, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, was bred in Kentucky by Winchell Thoroughbreds. The son of Gun Runner finished third in the Blame S. (G3) at Churchill Downs in his previous start. He also finished third in last year’s Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct and was defeated by just a half-length by Saudi Crown in the Pennsylvania Derby.