Handicapping the Grade 2 Stephen Foster, Fleur de Lis; Full card Selections

Posted On 26 Jun 2020

By Rick Francis —-

Churchill Downs spring/summer meet roars into it’s closing weekend with graded stakes action headlined by the Grade 2’s Stephen Foster and Fleur de Lis Stakes for fillies and mares; weather forecast looks promising as do the full-card selections.

CHURCHILL DOWNS

Race 8) 6 Furlongs. Bashford Manor S. Grade III. Purse $100,000 FOR TWO YEAR OLDS

Hall of fame conditioner Steve Asmussen sends out a pair of speedsters in Cazadero (6) and Hulen (2), both exit first out wins here and both with blazing winning times.

Repole Stables Hyperfocus (4) should benefit the aforementioned early speed as this Constitution colt demonstrated a solid late kick to take his racing debut at Gulfstream.

West Coast Shipper Herd Immunity (5) from the Peter Miller barn has been working lights out for his graded debut and also possesses late speed.

Selections: 6, 2, 4, 5

Race 9) 1&1/8 Mile. Fleur de Lis H. Grade II. Purse $200,000 FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 5:15)/ 4:15/ 3:15/ 2:15

The first of two highly anticipated Grade 2’s features reigning Kentucky Oaks champion Serengeti Empress (4) looking to regain her winning and upfront form as she tackles arguably one of the finest race horses from either side of the aisle, multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou ((5).

Regardless of whether Serengeti Empress can get the lead, holding it against a world-class closer will be tough. Look for Go Google Yourself (1) and Another Broad (2) to add value to the bottoms of exotics.

Selections: 5 w/ 4, 1, 2

Race 10) 1&1/8 Mile. Stephen Foster S. Grade II. Purse $500,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 5:47)/ 4:47/ 3:47/ 2:47

One of the best older horses in training Tom’s d’Etat (5) looks to add to his three race winning streak when he squares off against a pair of colts in By My Standards (6), who also enters on a 3-race win streak and up and coming late charging Owendale (8) out of the always dangerous Brad Cox barn. All three have excelled at the distance and likewise in an off-going. Going to give the slightest of edges to the veteran Tom’s d’Etat, however By My Standards, Owendale, along with Multiplier (4) should bring some value to exotic boxes.

Selections: 6, 5, 8, 4

Full Card Picks

Post Time: ( 1:00)/12:00/11:00/10:00

Race 1) 6, 3, 2, 5

Race 2) 2, 1, 3, 5

Race 3) 3, 1, 4, 5 + 8

Race 4) 11, 5, 2, 1 + 9

Race 5) 3, 7, 1, 2

Race 6) 6, 3, 10, 7

Race 7) 5, 4, 1, 2

Race 8) 6, 2, 4, 5

Race 9) 5 w/ 4, 1, 2