American Pharoah, Stephen Foster night runners doing well

Triple Crown champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) got a day of rest

and relaxation Sunday after thrilling 28,968 adoring fans with a parade over

Churchill Downs' track and trips to the paddock and winner's circle on Saturday

night

"He just walked this morning," assistant trainer Jimmy

Barnes said. "He got a day off today. It was a long night for him, and there's

nothing pressing right now."

Barnes said that the Zayat Stables' homebred would resume galloping Monday and continue to do so through

Wednesday before returning to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's base in

Southern California on Thursday morning.

In addition to American Pharoah parading at the track, Churchill's Saturday

night "Downs After Dark" program also featured four graded events, highlighted

by the Stephen Foster H. (G1).

The top

performers in that nine-furlong contest exited the race in good order according to their connections.

Foster winner Noble Bird (Birdstone), owned by John C. Oxley, looked

good on Sunday morning, according to assistant trainer Norman Casse, who

oversees his father, trainer Mark Casse's, string at Churchill Downs.

The four-year-old chestnut could make his

start in the $1.25 million Whitney H. (G1) at Saratoga on August 8.

"We'll have to take a good look at where we'll go next with him but we're

super proud," Casse said. "We're going to Saratoga this summer so I would say

that's where we're leaning right now. But if he's not doing well he won't go.

He'll have to be training well to run in a race like that."

The Stephen Foster was Noble Bird's first graded stakes victory in five

starts this year which included a well-beaten sixth in an allowance at Oaklawn,

two allowance victories at Oaklawn and Keeneland, and a close second in the Alysheba

S. (G2) on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard.

Noble Bird now has a guaranteed spot in the October 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at

Keeneland because the Stephen Foster was a "Win & You're In" event.

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Lea (First Samurai), the

9-5 Stephen Foster favorite, was a late-closing second behind Noble Bird and was making his

first start since a game third-place effort behind Prince Bishop (Dubawi) and

reigning Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in the

Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 28 at Meydan. The lightly-raced six-year-old came out

of the race in good order.

WinStar Farm's Commissioner (A.P. Indy) was a well-beaten sixth of seven in the

Stephen Foster after winning the May 15 Pimlico Special (G3) in his prior start.

"He didn't break great and he doesn't seem to be quite the same horse when

he's not up close," commented Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm. "He

just doesn't seem to have the fight in him when he's five or six back."

Trainer Todd Pletcher's assistant Adele Bellinger reported that the four-year-old

bay would likely get a week or two break at WinStar Farm before

returning to his trainer's base in New York.

Following the Stephen Foster, Six

Column Stables' Island Town (Hard Spun) put forth a gutty performance against heavily-favored

Fame and Power (First Defence) to take the Matt Winn S. (G3) by a half-length.

The chestnut gelding came out of that stakes debut effort in good order, according to trainer Ian Wilkes.

"He looked good, no problems at all," Wilkes said of his sophomore charge,

whom he was always confident about even as a juvenile when the horse was still a bit

green.

Following the race on Saturday night, Wilkes stated that

the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G2) on July 18 would be a "logical spot" for the horse, but is

open to all options.

"That (Indiana Derby) is an option," he said. "But the good thing about a

good three-year-old is that you have plenty of options."

G. Watts Humphrey's Frivolous (Empire Maker) came out of the Fleur de Lis H.

(G2) in good shape according to

trainer Vicki Oliver.

"She came out very well and she looked really good this

morning," Oliver said. "It's a very big win for her. I've always believed

in the filly. She dances every dance."

The $750,000 Delaware H. (G1) on July 18 at Delaware Park

and the $750,000 Personal Ensign H. (G1) on August 29 at Saratoga are two

potential spots for the five-year-old mare's next start.