Fort Larned, Successful Dan to meet in Stephen Foster Handicap
Jun 12th, 2013
www.DRF.com
by Marty McGee
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Six older horses are entered in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap, the Grade 1 race that has become the signature leadoff event for the post-Triple Crown half of the racing season in North America.
Fort Larned and Successful Dan are the co-highweights in the 1 1/8-mile race, which also figures to have Ron the Greek and Take Charge Indy among the top wagering choices. Golden Ticket, a dead-heat winner of the Travers Stakes last summer, is one of the two outsiders, along with Pool Play.
“Obviously, it’s a tough race, but that’s okay,” said Ken McPeek, the trainer of Golden Ticket. “We felt it was good timing and a good spot, with it being on our home court. If he’s ever going to beat this kind, maybe this is it.”
The Foster is the first “Win and You’re In” event of the year in North America for the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, with the Foster winner getting an automatic, expenses-paid berth into the $5 million BC Classic.
From the rail, with weights and jockeys, this is the field: Golden Ticket, 117 pounds, Joel Rosario; Fort Larned, 121, Brian Hernandez Jr.; Ron the Greek, 120, Jose Lezcano; Take Charge Indy, 119, Rosie Napravnik; Pool Play, 115, Miguel Mena; and Successful Dan, 121, Julien Leparoux.
The Foster, one of four graded stakes on the night, anchors the first of three straight Saturdays for the Downs After Dark program at Churchill. First post is at 6 p.m. Eastern, with the Foster, the eighth of 11 races, set for 9:39 and the 11th race for 11:10. HRTV will have extensive on-site coverage. Ontrack fans are encouraged to wear all-white attire in keeping with the “White Party” theme for the night.
