Churchill Downs hosts the Stephen Foster Stakes on Saturday, and although only five go to post, it looks sure to be a competitive contest, with last year’s best three-year-old Sovereignty the headline name.
White Abarrio beat him last time and it is sure to be another fascinating contest between the two. There is top-class action elsewhere on the card, with the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes perhaps the most interesting.
Jonny Pearson, a handicapper and tipster for the Racing Post, is here to give you his best bets for the action from Churchill Downs.
Saturday's Churchill Downs Horse Racing Betting Tips
21:04 Churchill Downs - Splendora @ 5/6
23:14 Churchill Downs - Sovereignty @ 11/10
21:04 Churchill Downs - Splendora @ 5/6
Our first selection comes in the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes, and it is five-year-old mare Splendora who gets the vote. She disappointed on Kentucky Derby weekend but, that aside, has won six of her last seven races, including most recently a Grade 2 at the same course.
There is a question mark over her stamina with a slight increase in distance, as she possesses a lot of speed and has a tendency to fade a little late in her races. But she has much the best form in the field and her class should be able to get her through the distance ahead of the rest of the field.
Immersive, who finished nearly three lengths behind her last time, is unlikely to be good enough to reverse the placings, and it could be Shred The Gnar who is the biggest danger, having won a Grade 1 at Churchill Downs when last seen at the start of last month.
23:14 Churchill Downs - Sovereignty @ 11/10
Our second selection comes in the feature race, the Stephen Foster Stakes, and last year’s most exciting horse, Sovereignty, looks the one to side with. He made his return in April having been off since last August, and was a bit disappointing when finishing second to White Abarrio, who reopposes on Saturday, but he likely needed the run.
There looks to be a highly likely chance he will reverse the form from that Oaklawn Park contest as he improved with each run last year and had fully asserted himself as favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic before being ruled out late on.
He was much the best of his generation last year and has the physique required to compete well against the older horses.
Being of fair size it is even more probable he would have been in great need for the race last time, and with the cobwebs now blown off, he can show himself as the great he was looking likely to become last year.
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Jonny Pearson is a handicapper for the Racing Post who has picked out several winners in the US and Australia in 2026.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
