Fields for Stephen Foster, Fleur de Lis taking shape

Commissioner figures to be one of the favorites in next week’s Stephen Foster (Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com) It’s back to the main track for Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor), who looks to return to the winner’s circle in next Saturday’s $500,000 Stephen Foster H. (G1) at Churchill Downs. Last time out, the seven-year-old veteran ran a well-beaten ninth in the Louisville H. (G3) on May 23, his third start on turf. “I don’t think he’ll ever see the turf ever again,” trainer Paul McGee said the morning after the race. The Stephen Foster comes three weeks after his last race, but McGee says that the shorter amount of time between races shouldn’t bother Majestic Harbor. “He rebounded real good and came out of it fine — he’s just not a turf horse,” McGee said. “The Stephen Foster is right here at his home track and he’s a Grade 1 winner and the race has a big purse. I think he’ll come back just fine. He’s been eating well and came out of the Louisville H. good. He’s relatively fresh.” Also possible for the Stephen Foster are Noble Bird (Birdstone), second last time out in the Alysheba (G2), and Sky Captain (Sky Mesa), fourth via disqualification last time out in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1). The latter breezed a bullet five furlongs Friday morning. Norman Casse, assistant to his father Mark, said that no decision would be made on which horse would run until Noble Bird breezes Saturday morning. He also said there is a possibility that both horses could run.

Trainer Todd Pletcher had planned to run a pair of horses in next week’s
Stephen Foster in pursuit of his first victory in the race, but a virus in his
Belmont Park barn has taken one of those hopes out of consideration for the
race. Protonico (Giant’s Causeway), winner of the Alysheba (G2), spiked a fever
and has been ruled out of the Stephen Foster.

That leaves Commissioner (A.P. Indy) as Pletcher’s lone Foster candidate. The
four-year-old comes into the race off back-to-back wins in the Pimlico Special
(G3) and the Skip Away (G3). He is best known for his runner-up finish in last
year’s Belmont S. (G1), in which he finished a nose behind the victorious
Tonalist (Tapit) and in front of champion California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit).

Also looming as major contender for the Stephen Foster is the Bill
Mott-trained Lea (First Samurai), winner of the 2014 Donn H. (G1) on dirt at
Gulfstream Park and runner-up to eventual Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wisemen’s
Ferry) in the 2013 Firecracker (G2) on turf.

The six-year-old has not raced since a third-place finish behind Prince
Bishop and California Chrome in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) at
Meydan in late March. Earlier this year he scored a second consecutive victory
in Gulfstream Park’s Hal’s Hope (G3) and was runner-up to Constitution (Tapit)
in the Donn.

Other possible starters for the Stephen Foster include Cat Burglar
(Unbridled’s Song), third in the Pimlico Special, and Paganol (Tiznow), an
impressive allowance winner on Kentucky Derby Day.

The field also is taking shape for the $200,000 Fleur de Lis H. (G2) for
older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles, one of four stakes races that will be
part of the June 13 Stephen Foster nighttime racing card.

Leading Fleur de Lis candidates include La Troienne (GI) runner-up Sheer
Drama (Burning Roma), winner of Gulfstream’s Royal Delta (G2); Gold Medal Dancer
(Medaglia d’Oro), upset winner over champion Untapable (Untapable) in Oaklawn
Park’s Azeri (G2) and third in the Apple Blossom H. (G1) and La Troienne;
Frivolous (Empire Maker), winner of the 2014 Falls City Handicap (G2); Tiz Windy
(Tiznow), winner of the Indiana Oaks (G2); and America (A.P. Indy), winner of
the Affectionately at Aqueduct.

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