Foster looks tough in Tall Stack

After a whirlwind week at Churchill Downs, trainer Eric Foster is back in action, looking for another stakes win in a career year this Friday at Belterra Park. Foster, who sent out his first Kentucky Oaks starter last week in creditable fifth-place Everland, will saddle favored Alwaysintomischief in the $75,000 Daryl E. Parker Memorial Tall Stack Stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Alwaysintomischief, owned by RMS Racing, made his first three starts in open company on the Tapeta at Turfway Park. After a front-running maiden victory in his second career start, he somewhat successfully showed a different dimension in an allowance/optional-claiming effort on March 8, closing from 10th to finish third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Joe Shiesty. The winner, also trained by Foster, came back to win the William Walker Stakes last week at Churchill Downs.

Alwaysintomischief made his first start against fellow Ohio-breds, and his first start on dirt, in the Howard B. Noonan Stakes on April 13. He responded in smashing fashion, pressing the pace under Abel Cedillo – who rides again Friday – easily taking over early and drawing away as he pleased to an eight-length victory that earned him a breakout Beyer Speed Figure of 91. He defeated several of the foes he’ll meet again Friday. Gunner Gabriel – a salerestricted stakes winner who came back to win an allowance race – and Ekati’s Way were second and third, respectively, while Spellcast, winner of the Hoover Stakes last year, was fifth.

There is plenty of speed in this race, with Who Da Boss, making his stakes debut, and Gunner Gabriel well drawn in posts 1 and 2, respectively. River Boat, coming off a 6 1/4-length debut win on April 25, is in the outside post in the field of seven, with Alwaysintomischief in post 6. The favorite has shown some versatility that could let him adjust to a strong pace. He also might simply be faster. After his 91 Beyer, the nexthighest number in the field is a 77, with both Gunner Gabriel and River Boat turning in that figure.

Alwaysintomischief and Joe Shiesty are among four stakes winners already this year for Foster, who has six stakes wins on his career; the other two came in 2022 with Kitodan. Everland won the Bourbonette Oaks and Maxisuperfly the Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway, and both gave solid accounts of themselves at Churchill. Maxisuperfly tried turf for the first time in the Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes and was beaten less than a length in fourth after setting the pace. Later that day, Everland was fifth in the Oaks as the longest shot on the board in her first start on dirt.

“She ran hard and finished good,” Foster said. “I was proud of her.”

The filly will likely drop in class for her next outing.

“She’s still eligible for a two-other-than, so I’ll try to find something for her to help build up her confidence,” Foster said.