Stephen Foster Stakes

The Stephen Foster Stakes is a Grade 1 stakes race held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky and is run over a distance of 9/8 miles (9 furlongs).

The 2025 Stephen Foster Stakes has a purse of $1,000,000 and will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

Scroll down for details on this year's horses, odds, results and more.

Stephen Foster Stakes
EquiSport Photos
Kyle French
By Kyle French

Stephen Foster Stakes Information

DateSaturday, 28 June 2025
Post TimeTBA
RacetrackChurchill Downs
Distance(9 furlongs)
ConditionsThree-Year-Olds and older. Assigned weight.
StatusGrade 1 Stakes
Purse$1,000,000
Track DirectionLeft-handed
Track SurfaceDirt
2024 WinnerKingsbarns

Stephen Foster Stakes History

The Stephen Foster Stakes is a Grade II horse race at Churchill Downs, Louisville. Named after songwriter Stephen Foster, it began in 1982. The race covers 1 1/8 miles on dirt and usually occurs in June. It is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, offering the winner a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The race has seen many notable winners and plays a vital role in American horse racing. It acts as a preparatory event for the Breeders' Cup, adding to Churchill Downs' legacy, which is also known for the Kentucky Derby.

It has progressed from Grade III status in 1988 to Grade II in 1995 to Grade I in 2002. In 2019, it was downgraded to Grade II. In 2023 the event was upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee to Grade I

Five horses have won the Stephen Foster and the Breeders' Cup Classic in the same year. Black Tie Affair (1991), Awesome Again (1998) and Blame (2010) won both races at Churchill Downs. Saint Liam (2005) won his running of the Classic at Belmont Park

The Stephen Foster Stakes continues to be a key event in horse racing, attracting top horses and providing exciting competition every year.

Tom's d'Etat wins the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs (Coady Photography)
Tom's d'Etat wins the 2020 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs (Coady Photography)

Stephen Foster Stakes Entries

View our horse racing entries section closer to the Stephen Foster Stakes race day for details on each horse. 

Fan Odds provides morning line and current odds, along with insights on each horse's past performance.

Stephen Foster Stakes Past Performances

View our free past performances section closer to the Stephen Foster Stakes race day for detailed insights on each horse, including their win, place and show strike rate percentages.

Stephen Foster Stakes 2025 Horses & Field

This year's Stephen Foster Stakes horses, jockeys, trainers and field information will be provided closer to raceday.

In the meantime, you can view the 2024 field:

No.HorseTrainerJockeyBarrierWeight
1PyreneesCherie DevauxBrian Jr Hernandez1-
2First MissionB CoxFlorent Geroux2-
4DisarmSteven AsmussenJoel Rosario4-
5DreamlikeTodd PletcherIrad Ortiz Jr5-
6Classic CausewayKenneth McPeekJ R Leparoux6-
7KingsbarnsTodd PletcherLuis Saez7-
8Steal SunshineBobby DibonaPaco Lopez8-
9SkippylongstockingS Joseph JrJose Ortiz9-
3Happy AmericanNeil PessinCorey Lanerie3-

Stephen Foster Stakes 2025 Favorites

This year's Stephen Foster Stakes favorites will be listed below closer to the race.

Stephen Foster Stakes 2025 Picks

When available – See this year's Stephen Foster Stakes top picks below:

How To Bet On The Stephen Foster Stakes

To start betting on the Stephen Foster Stakes, follow these simple steps: 

Step 1: Choose a Racebook

Start by choosing an online racebook. We recommend TwinSpires but there are other legal and registered racebooks available like TVG and FanDuel.

Step 2: Sign Up 

Signing up with a racebook is easy: verify you're 18+, fill in your details, and you're set!

Step 3: Deposit Funds

After signing up with a racebook, add funds to your account using your card or an approved deposit method like PayPal. Remember to review the minimum deposit and any fees for your chosen deposit method.

Step 4: Place Your Bets 

With funds now in your account, you're ready to bet. To learn about the various Stephen Foster Stakes bet types available, keep reading below.

Horse Racing at Ellis Park

Bet Types For The Stephen Foster Stakes

There are many ways to bet on the Stephen Foster Stakes. You can place a bet to win or hedge your bets with an exacta, trifecta or superfecta.

You can split bet types for the Stephen Foster Stakes into three different categories:

  • Straight Bets (Win, Place & Show)
  • Horizontal Bets (Parlay)
  • Vertical Bets (Exotic)

Straight Bets

Straight bets are straightforward and ideal for newcomers or more casual horse racing fans. 

Bet TypeExplanation
WinYour horse must win
PlaceYour horse must finish first or second
ShowYour horse must finish first, second or third

Horizontal Bets

Horizontal bets are parlay bets – to win, you must correctly select the winner of consecutive races.

Bet TypeExplanation
Daily DoubleSelect the winning horse, two races in a row 
Pick 3Select the winning horse, three races in a row
Pick 4Select the winning horse, four races in a row
Pick 5Select the winning horse, five races in a row
Pick 6Select the winning horse, six races in a row

Vertical Bets

Vertical bets are exotic bets – to win, you must correctly select the finishing order of multiple horses in a single race.

Bet TypeExplanation
QuinellaSelect the horses that finish first and second, in any order
ExactaSelect the horses that finish first and second, in the correct order
TrifectaSelect the horses that finish first, second and third, in the correct order
SuperfectaSelect the horses that finish first, second, third and fourth, in the correct order

Stephen Foster Stakes Past Winners

See a list of past winners for the Stephen Foster Stakes since the year 2000 below.

YEARWINNERJOCKEY / TRAINER
2014KingsbarnsLuis Saez/ Todd Pletcher
2023West Will PowerFlavien Prat / Brad H. Cox
2022OlympiadJunior Alvarado / William I. Mott
2021MaxfieldJose L. Ortiz / Brendan P. Walsh
2020Tom's d'EtatMiguel Mena / Albert Stall Jr.
2019Seeking the SoulJohn Velasquez / Dallas Stewart
2018PavelMario Gutierrez / Doug F. O'Neill
2017Gun RunnerFlorent Geroux / Steven M. Asmussen
2016BradesterJoe Bravo / Eddie Kenneally
2015Noble BirdShaun Bridgmohan / Mark E. Casse
2014Moonshine MullinCalvin H. Borel / Randy L. Morse
2013Fort LarnedBrian Hernandez Jr. / Ian R. Wilkes
2012Ron the GreekJose Lezcano / William I. Mott
2011Pool PlayMiguel Mena / Mark E. Casse
2010BlameGarrett K. Gomez / Albert Stall Jr.
2009Macho AgainRobby Albarado / Dallas Stewart
2008CurlinRobby Albarado / Steven M. Asmussen
2007Flashy BullRobby Albarado / Kiaran P. McLaughlin
2006Seek GoldCalvin H. Borel / Ron Moquett
2005Saint LiamEdgar S. Prado / Robert J. Frankel
2004Colonial ColonyRafael Bejarano / Walter M. Bindner Jr.
2003Perfect DriftPat Day / Murray W. Johnson
2002Street Cry (IRE)Jerry D. Bailey / Saeed bin Suroor
2001Guided TourLarry Melancon / Niall M. O'Callaghan
2000Golden MissileKent J. Desormeaux / Joe Orseno

Stephen Foster Stakes 2024 Results

See the full list of results for the 2024 Stephen Foster Stakes below.

Pos.Horse (Post Pos)TrainerJockeyWeightMarginOdds
1st
Kingsbarns
7.Kingsbarns (7)
T: T. Pletcher
J: L. Saez (123lbs)
Todd PletcherLuis Saez123lbs-
6-1
2nd
Pyrenees
1.Pyrenees (1)
T: C. Devaux
J: B. Jr (123lbs)
Cherie DevauxBrian Jr Hernandez123lbs-
30-1
3rd
Skippylongstocking
9.Skippylongstocking (9)
T: S. Joseph
J: J. Ortiz (123lbs)
S Joseph JrJose Ortiz123lbs-
4-1
4th
First Mission
2.First Mission (2)
T: B. Cox
J: F. Geroux (123lbs)
B CoxFlorent Geroux123lbs-
9-2
5th
Steal Sunshine
8.Steal Sunshine (8)
T: B. Dibona
J: P. Lopez (123lbs)
Bobby DibonaPaco Lopez123lbs-
4-1
6th
Disarm
4.Disarm (4)
T: S. Asmussen
J: J. Rosario (123lbs)
Steven AsmussenJoel Rosario123lbs-
3-1
7th
Classic Causeway
6.Classic Causeway (6)
T: K. McPeek
J: J. R (123lbs)
Kenneth McPeekJ R Leparoux123lbs-
5-1
8th
Dreamlike
5.Dreamlike (5)
T: T. Pletcher
J: I. Ortiz (123lbs)
Todd PletcherIrad Ortiz Jr123lbs-
1-2
Happy American
3.Happy American (3)
T: N. Pessin
J: C. Lanerie (123lbs)
Neil PessinCorey Lanerie123lbs-
30-1

Stephen Foster Stakes 2024 Replay

See the full replay for the 2024 Stephen Foster Stakes below.

How To Watch The Stephen Foster Stakes

Racing fans keen to watch the Stephen Foster Stakes have several viewing options to choose from. Note these options may change.

On Television

The Stephen Foster Stakes will be broadcast live on NBC, NBC Sports, and USA Network. You can also stream the race on the NBC Sports app (iOS & Android) or USA Network website.

Streaming Online

For those preferring to stream on a computer or mobile, NBC Sports and the NBC Sports app offer live coverage. Peacock, NBC's streaming service will also have coverage of the race for a subscription fee.

FanDuel TV

The Stephen Foster and the rest of a stacked racecard Saturday will be shown exclusively on FanDuel TV, which will have a team of broadcasters on-site at Ellis Park for coverage.

Alternative Streaming Options

Streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV include NBC in their offerings. These platforms may offer free trials, potentially allowing viewers to watch the race without additional costs.

For International Fans

Viewers outside the United States can use a VPN to access the Stephen Foster Stakes broadcast. A VPN connection to a US server, enables race fans anywhere to subscribe to US-based streaming services to watch the race live.

Tips For Watching The Stephen Foster Stakes

  • Make sure to check your local TV listings for the correct channel and time.
  • If you're streaming online, ensure you have a stable internet connection to avoid any disruptions during the race.
  • You can also listen to the race on the radio or through online streaming services like SiriusXM.
Stephen Foster Stakes Day

Stephen Foster Stakes FAQs

Where is the Stephen Foster Stakes Held?

The Stephen Foster is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

When is the Stephen Foster Stakes 2025?

The Stephen Foster Stakes race is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2025.

What Time is the Stephen Foster Stakes?

The Stephen Foster Stakes race time is scheduled for approximately TBA ET.

How Long is the Stephen Foster Stakes?

The Stephen Foster Stakes is run over a distance of 8 miles (9 furlongs).

 

How Many Horses are in the Stephen Foster Stakes?

The field capacity for the Stephen Foster Stakes, a Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race, typically accommodates up to 14 horses. However, the exact number of entries can vary each year based on the number of horses nominated and accepted to run in the race.

What is the Purse for the Stephen Foster Stakes?

This year’s Stephen Foster Stakes purse is $1,000,000.

How Do You Bet on the Stephen Foster Stakes?

To bet on the Stephen Foster Stakes, simply choose a racebook, sign up, deposit your funds, and then place your bet once the deposit clears. For more details on bet types, see our Bet Types For Stephen Foster Stakes section above.

Who Won the Stephen Foster Stakes in 2024?

Kingsbarn won the Stephen Foster Stakes in 2024. Kingsbarn was trained by Todd Pletcher and jockeyed by Luis Saez.

 

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Who Won the Stephen Foster Stakes in 2023?

West Will Power won the Stephen Foster Stakes in 2023. West Will Power was trained by Brad H. Cox and jockeyed by Flavien Prat.