Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap Possible Starters
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Saturday's main event at Churchill Downs could bring together a number of familiar faces from past Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup races, all vying for a spot in this year's BC Classic.
The $500,000 Stephen Foster is a Win And You're In race for a spot in the Classic, and is expected to draw a field consisiting of the likes of Effinex, International Star and El Kabier, all of whom sport graded-stakes wins on their resumes. Effenix, second in the 2015 BC Classic, was a last out winner of the Oaklawn Handicap after finishing third in the (G1) Santa Anita Handicap in his season opener. International Star was a leading contender for the 2015 Kentucky Derby after three straight wins in the Louisiana prep races, but was injured just prior to the race. He has a win since then, but was sixth last out in the (G2) Charles Town Classic. El Kabeir picked up a pair of graded-stakes wins in 2015, but has struggled lately, finishing far out of it in his last two.
Old foes renew a recent rivalry
Also expected in the field are a pair facing off for the second straight time, as Majestic Harbor and Eagle ran in the (G2) Alysheba Stakes in early May, with the 13-1 Majestic Harbor scoring the upset win over 3-1 Eagle, who ran second. Also expected in the gate are the veteran Bradester, who captured a pair of graded-stakes races last year and comes in off a lower-level stakes win in his 2016 debut, and Kentucky-bred Are You Kidding Me, a multiple graded-stakes winner at his home base of Woodbine.
As part of its Downs After Dark program, post time for the Stephen Foster is 9:39 PM Eastern.
Post position w/ML Odds
1) International Star (12-1)
2) Bradester (5-1)
3) Effinex (6-5)
4) Majestic Harbor (4-1)
5) El Kabeir (12-1)
6) Are You Kidding Me (12-1)
7) Eagle (4-1)
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