At least 8 expected for Stephen Foster

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Backyard Heaven, a smashing winner of the Grade 2 Alysheba earlier in the Churchill Downs spring meet, was expected to be the top-weighted starter when entries were taken here Wednesday for the Grade 1, $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap.

Backyard Heaven was assigned 121 pounds for the 1 1/8-mile Foster, the richest of five stakes to be run Saturday night on the third and final Downs After Dark card of the 38-day meet. Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode the colt to his 4 1/2-length triumph in the May 4 Alysheba, will be in from New York to ride for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Chad Brown.

Ortiz’s brother Jose has a return call in the Foster on Irish War Cry, who is assigned 119 pounds. Irish War Cry, trained by Graham Motion, also was a 4 1/2-length winner of his last start, the Grade 3 Pimlico Special on May 18.

Although more were possible, these are the eight older horses (with weights) known to be probable starters for the 37th Stephen Foster:

Backyard Heaven, 121; Irish War Cry, 119; Honorable Duty, 118; Hawaakom, 117; Pavel, 117; Leofric, 115; Lookin At Lee, 115; and Uncle Mojo, 114.

The Stephen Foster marks the unofficial start to the second half of the national racing season and the march to the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill. The Foster is a Win and You’re In toward the $6 million BC Classic.

The NBC Sports Network will have live coverage on a 90-minute broadcast from 8:3010 p.m. Eastern. Even before the Wednesday draw of entries, Churchill already has tentatively set the race schedule to accommodate the telecast, with the Stephen Foster going under the lights as the eighth of 11 races at 9:39.

Directly preceding the Stephen Foster will be the Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (race 7, 9:05), which is a Win and You’re In for the Nov. 3 BC Distaff. Foremost among the likely starters (with weights) for the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis are Farrell, 119; Blue Prize, 118; Valadorna, 118; Song of Spring, 117; and Fuhriously Kissed, 115.

Three other stakes also will be run here Saturday evening. They are:

Grade 3, $100,000 Matt Winn (race 5, 7:57): Ax Man will be favored if Bob Baffert opts to enter the colt in the 1 1/16-mile race, expected to get Combatant, Quip, Tiz Mischief, and probably a few more.

Grade 2, $200,000 Wise Dan (race 6, 8:30): World Approval figures as a heavy favorite in what is expected to be a mid-sized lineup of older horses in this 1 1/16-mile turf race.

Grade 3, $100,000 Regret (race 9, 10:11): A sizable and well-matched field of 3-year-old fillies led by Sassy Sienna is pointing for this 1 1/8-mile turf race.

The Ortiz brothers are expected to be joined by other big-name jockeys in town for the evening, including John Velazquez and Luis Saez. First post is 6 p.m. General admission is $10.