Foster card comes up aces

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lineups are set for the four graded races that help bring an end to the Churchill Downs spring meet this weekend, with the return of Midnight Bisou being the most noteworthy aspect to the Saturday stakes.

Midnight Bisou, the No. 1-rated horse in the weekly National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll since March 10, will have Mike Smith aboard in her first start since finishing second in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup when she faces six other fillies and mares in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis. Serengeti Empress, the 2019 Kentucky Oaks winner, is among the opposition.

“She’s training just gorgeously,” trainer Steve Asmussen said of Midnight Bisou.

The $200,000 Fleur de Lis will share the Saturday spotlight with the Grade 2, $500,000 Stephen Foster for older males. Both are Win and You’re In events for their respective Breeders’ Cup races, the Distaff and Classic, on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

The Stephen Foster drew a field of eight, led by Tom’s d’Etat and By My Standards, two of the hottest handicap runners in North America. Tom’s d’Etat has earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in his last seven starts and most recently won the April 11 Oaklawn Mile with a 101.

“He has a history of running well off layoffs,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said.

By My Standards, trained by Bret Calhoun, is 3 for 3 this year, including triumphs in the New Orleans Classic and the Oaklawn Handicap.

The Foster and Fleur de Lis are part of an all-stakes pick four that ends an 11-race Saturday card that starts at 1 p.m. Eastern. In order, the stakes are the Grade 3 Bashford Manor (race 8, 4:46) for 2-year-olds, the Fleur de Lis (race 9, 5:18), the Foster (race 10, 5:50), and the Grade 3 Regret (race 11, 6:22) for 3-year-old turf fillies.

From the rail, this is the Foster lineup: Fearless, Pirate’s Punch, Alkhaatam, Multiplier, Tom’s d’Etat, By My Standards, Silver Dust, and Owendale.

From the rail, the Fleur de Lis: Go Google Yourself, Another Broad, Chocolate Kisses, Serengeti Empress, Midnight Bisou, Red Dane, and Motion Emotion.

Sunday is closing day of the 27-day spring meet. Ellis Park then will open its summer meet by running four days (July 2-5). Keeneland then runs a five day meet (July 8-12), after which Ellis resumes July 17 with three-day weekends through Aug. 30.

Churchill has raced without spectators since Kentucky resumed racing May 16 after a nearly two-month break.