Obviously ready to run, Magnitude broke through the starting gate early, was reloaded by the gate crew, then shot to the lead and never wavered in winning the $2 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) over a muddy Churchill Downs track on Saturday.
Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty, sent off as the 4-5 favorite, raced in third place most of the race under Junior Alvarado, but was never a serious threat. The Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) winner is now 0-for-2 as a 4-year-old for trainer Bill Mott.
Baeza, who got off to slow start, closed with rush to finish second, 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner. The Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner is also trained by Mott.
Magnitude is magnificent
But the day was won by Magnitude ($7.16 on a $2 win bet), who earlier this year defeated champion Forever Young in the Dubai World Cup (G1) on March 28. With wins over two champions, plus a victory over Hit Show in the Clark Stakes (G2) and a win in the Razorback Handicap (G3), Magnitude moves into the conversation for Horse of the Year honors.
The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster was a “Win and You’re In” race to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31, but the 4-year-old trained by Steve Asmussen had already earned a spot in the Classic with his win in Dubai.
With the five-horse field in the starting gate, Magnitude, with Jose Ortiz aboard, broke through but the gate crew quickly took hold of him, walked him back around and he went into the gate without issue.
And there was no issue about who was winning as Magnitude upped his win streak to four straight. Winning time was 1:48.03.
It’s also been quite a year for Ortiz, who won the Derby and Belmont aboard Golden Tempo.
Magnitude missed the 2025 Triple Crown races with an injury and also missed the Saudi Cup (G1) earlier this year after spiking a fever.
“What a perfect story for all of us, what an amazing horse,’’ Asmussen said. He’s had a lots of ups and downs, Asmussen added, “but for him to win against these horses … what a special horse.”
White Abarrio was fourth and Willy D’s fifth.
Immersive wins $500,000 Fleur de Lis (G2) on the undercard
Immersive and Shred the Gnar went at each other from the start before champion Immersive found another gear in the final furlong and won the $500,000 Fleur de Lis (G2) Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” race to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
With the scratch of morning-line favorite Splendora, the field of fillies and mares 4 and up was reduced to four.
When the gates opened, Immersive – the 2024 2-year-old champion filly – and Shred the Gnar turned the 1 1/8 miles into a match race. Under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Immersive led through a half-mile; then Shred the Gnar under Luis Saez took over after three-quarters of a mile, and Immersive dropped back. Immersive, second in her last two starts after being sidelined for more than six months, kicked in and returned to her winning ways.
Trained by Brad Cox, the 4-year-old Nyquist filly returned $5.34 as the second betting choice behind (3-5 favorite) Shred the Gnar, who finished third behind fast-closing Regaled, three-quarters of a length behind the winner.
Immersive improved to six wins and four seconds in 10 career starts and pushed her bankroll over $2.1 million. Her previous race was a loss to Shred the Gnar in the Shawnee Stakes (G3). Shred the Gnar came into the race off a victory in the La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill on May 1.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
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