TDN AMERICA TODAY the Two Outsiders Arturo Toscanini (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and CHURCHILL FINISHES STRONG Matchless (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) Thrown in for Good Measure
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SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021 MAXFIELD THE ONE TO BEAT IN FOSTER THIS SIDE UP: FOSTERING The talented Maxfield (Street Sense) headlines a field of nine slated for Saturday's GII Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs, a A SENSE OF LEGACY 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. After suffering his first career defeat finishing third in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 6, the Godolphin homebred got back on track with a strong performance in Churchill's GII Alysheba S. on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard. It was 3 1/4 lengths back to Twinspires Kentucky Cup Classic S. winner Visitant (Ghostzapper) in second that day and another 4 1/4 lengths back to Chess Chief (Into Mischief) in third. AWe shipped him up from Keeneland last week and worked an easy half-mile [in :48 4/5 at Churchill Downs June 19],@ trainer Brendan Walsh said of the 4-5 morning-line favorite. AHe did most of his work at Keeneland prior to the Foster. He=s a fit and happy horse. We=re ready to go and excited to get this race underway.@ Maxfield's six-career victories include a win in the 2019 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. Saturday's GII Stephen Foster favorite Maxfield | Horsephotos Warrior's Charge (Munnings), winner of the 2020 GIII Razorback H. and GIII Philip Iselin S. via disqualification, by Chris McGrath looks to right the ship following a disappointing beginning to his Ours is the most nostalgic of sports, sustained by trusted 5-year-old campaign. He was sixth after a slow start in a sloppy cycles. And if the calendar pauses somewhat, between the end renewal of the GIII Steve Sexton Mile S. at Lone Star last time of the Triple Crown and the renewal of beloved summer rituals May 31. The 7-year-old gelding Silver Dust (Tapit), third in this at Saratoga and Del Mar, that won't preclude an evocative race last year, enters off a win in the GIII Ben Ali in the resonance in some of the things we can enjoy Saturday. Keeneland slop Apr. 10. True, the idea that Letruska (Super Saver) is any kind of throwback, just because she is managing a second start in three weeks, is a measure of how effete the modern Thoroughbred has become. I've drawn attention previously to Jim Bolger's campaigning of Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who IN TDN EUROPE TODAY last month contested three Classics in 22 days, so hopefully HIGH DEFINITION HEADS IRISH DERBY LINEUP everybody registered his career-best display at Royal Ascot the TDN Rising Star High Definition looks the one to beat in other day. Note, too, that this colt is by a stallion discarded by Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh. the commercial market, now standing privately on Bolger's own Click or tap here to go straight to TDN Europe. farm. Cont. p3 PUBLISHER & CEO Sue Morris Finley @suefinley [email protected] SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Gary King @garykingTDN [email protected] EDITORIAL [email protected] Editor-in-Chief Jessica Martini @JessMartiniTDN Senior Contributing Editor Saturday, June 26, 2021 Alan Carasso @EquinealTDN Senior Editor Steve Sherack @SteveSherackTDN Racing Editor Brian DiDonato @BDiDonatoTDN Deputy Editor Christie DeBernardis @CDeBernardisTDN Associate Editors Christina Bossinakis @CBossTDN Joe Bianca @JBiancaTDN News and Features Editor In Memoriam: Ben Massam (1988-2019) ADVERTISING [email protected] Director of Advertising Alycia Borer Advertising Manager Lia Best Advertising Designer Amanda Crelin Advertising Project Manager Rachel McCaffrey Advertising Assistants Amie Newcomb With fewer than 20 rides under his belt since his retirement from the track, Barry Lee Kristen Lomasson goes from racehorse to jumper with his owner and rider Jordan Sigmon in this year's Real Rider Cup. Pictured above schooling cross country this week, the duo is sponsored Photographer/Photo Editor Sarah K. Andrew @SarahKAndrew by Sagamore Farm, one of Barry Lee's previous owners. Have you voted for your favorite [email protected] Real Rider Cup team? Click here to vote once per day through Sunday, June 27. Daniella Ricci Social Media Strategist Justina Severni TODAY’S GRADED STAKES Associate Producer ET Race Click for TV Katie Ritz 9:20a William Hill Chipchase S.-G3, NC --------------- TVG Director of Customer Service 10:05a GAIN Railway S.-G2, CUR --------------- TVG Vicki Forbes 10:15a Close Brothers Criterion S.-G3, NMK --------------- TVG [email protected] 10:45a Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby-G1, CUR --------------- TVG 11:20a ARM Holding International S.-G3, CUR --------------- TVG Marketing Manager Alayna Cullen @AlaynaCullen 2:45p Fleur de Lis S.-GII, CD TJCIS PPs FS2 4:20p Ohio Derby-GIII, TDN TJCIS PPs TVG Chief Financial Officer 4:30p Trillium S.-GIII, WO TJCIS PPs TVG Ray Villa 4:40p Mother Goose S.-GII, BEL TJCIS PPs FS2 [email protected] [email protected] 4:55p Bashford Manor S.-GIII, CD TJCIS PPs FS2 5:26p Wise Dan S.-GII, CD TJCIS PPs FS2 WORLDWIDE INFORMATION 5:59p Stephen Foster S.-GII, CD TJCIS PPs FS2 International Editor Kelsey Riley @kelseynrileyTDN 7:13p Chicago S.-GIII, AP TJCIS PPs TVG [email protected] European Editor Emma Berry [email protected] Associate International Editor Heather Anderson @HLAndersonTDN Newmarket Bureau, Cafe Racing Sean Cronin & Tom Frary [email protected] 60 Broad Street, Suite 100 Red Bank, NJ 07701 732-747-8060 | www.TheTDN.com TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 3 OF 12 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • JUNE 26, 2021 Cont. from p1 Be that as it may, the ferrous qualities perceived in the Mexican mare will be doing no harm to a picaresque narrative that has already exalted her from El Hipodromo de las Americas to early mutterings about Horse of the Year. But if Letruska is perhaps not quite as old-fashioned as would appear, then the same could be said of another highlight of closing day at Churchill. The GII Stephen Foster S. is a race that somehow feels more venerable than its history warrants. It was only inaugurated in 1982, and a couple of years ago lapsed from the Grade I status secured by some who contributed to its precocious stature. In 1998, for instance, Awesome Again and Silver Charm rehearsed to within half a step their GI Breeders' Cup Classic exacta that November. The following year, Victory Gallop stopped the clock at 1:47.28--a mark that still looms over Maxfield (Street Sense) and friends today. Saint Liam, Curlin and Gun Runner are among the other names decorating the roll of honor. But what really gives the Stephen Foster that sepia tint is, well, Stephen Foster. Gun Runner taking the 2017 Foster | Coady Photo I find it very gratifying that our community honors a man who notoriously died at 37, with 38 cents in his wallet, adrift in the flophouses of the New York theatre district. Though he celebrated our sport directly in Camptown Races, we view his principal bequest as My Old Kentucky Home. Cont. p4 TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 4 OF 12 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • JUNE 26, 2021 This Side Up cont. Recently, of course, the undertones of our Derby Day anthem have been subjected to fresh examination. That's an exercise pretty typical of our times and, for some, duly began with an aggressive presumption that the song sought to place a romantic gloss on the era of slavery. But while the same misapprehension has doubtless been shared by many under the Twin Spires over the past century, Foster's original lyrics and intentions have instead been newly saluted for a compassion, uncommon at the time, for the sufferings of those "sold down the river". In many respects of his shadowed life, no doubt, Foster failed to transcend the norms of the epoch in which his genius was forged. But it feels right that we can still honor the human spirit that still flickers, all these years later, in a soul darkened by drink and despair. For once, perhaps, this controversial process has Singing Foster's anthem is a Derby Day highlight | Coady Photo actually served its purpose: not "cancellation", but a better understanding of the pathos and dignity that unites Foster's own Will trainers be judged simply by the big races they have won? story with that of his cherished lament. Or will it be additionally asked why Trainers A, B and C signed up Food for thought, here, for any horseman who proudly to publication of their veterinary records, signed up to WHOA, anticipates the respect of posterity. For how will history judge and maintained a clean violation history; and why Trainers D, E those who are pushing the slack boundaries of their calling and F conspicuously did not? Because make no mistake, if our today? No less than when we look back at Foster, it will be the sport has survived at all, then it will only be because those context of our time that allows proper judgement, for better or questions have become much more important than appears to worse, of what truly abides in our individual natures. be the case right now. Cont. p5 IT MEANS WIN AND YOU’RE IN THE BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES RETURNS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS ON JUNE 26 FOR THE FLEUR DE LIS STAKES AND STEPHEN FOSTER STAKES TUNE-IN ON AND THE BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES Automatic starting position in the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff and $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, respectively | Pre-entry and entry fees paid | Up to $40K in Travel Awards | $10K Nominator Award MEMBERS.BREEDERSCUP.COM 859.514.9422 • [email protected] TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 5 OF 12 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • JUNE 26, 2021 McGrath cont.