On Saturday, July 1st, the first (on American soil) Win and You’re In qualifying race for this fall’s $6 million dollar Breeders’ Cup Classic will be held in Kentucky.

On Wednesday, in order to review safety and surface protocols, Churchill Downs suspended racing operations for the remainder of its meet.

Therefore, the 42nd edition of the Stephen Foster Stakes (along with the rest of the card) will be run at Ellis Park in western Kentucky instead of under the Twin Spires in Louisville.

The $1 million, Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, which means that the Winner of Saturday’s race will receive an automatic berth to the November 4th Classic at Santa Anita Park with entry fees waived.

Ran at 1 1/8 miles on the main dirt track, the Stephen Foster has been Won by such notable horses as PERFECT DRIFT (2003), SAINT LIAM (2005), CURLIN (2008), BLAME (2010), FORT LARNED (2013), GUN RUNNER (2017), and MAXFIELD (2021).

Of that group, SAINT LIAM, BLAME, and GUN RUNNER followed up their Wins in the Stephen Foster with Wins in the Breeders’ Cup Classic later in the year.

OLYMPIAD Won last year’s Stephen Foster and three starts later concluded his racing career with a 2nd place finish in the Classic (at Keeneland), losing to Horse of the Year FLIGHTLINE.

This year’s Stephen Foster drew a well-matched eight-horse field, featuring seven Graded Stakes Winners. The contest is slated as race 10 on a card of 11 with a scheduled Post Time of 5:25.