Saint Liam preps for Stephen Foster

Saint Liam has won two of three outings at Churchill Downs  (James Crisp/Horsephotos.com)

Donn H. (G1) winner SAINT LIAM (Saint Ballado) breezed four furlongs in a
bullet :47 2/5 over a fast track at Aqueduct on Tuesday in advance of an
expected start in Saturday’s $750,000 Stephen Foster H. (G1) at Churchill Downs.
The nine-furlong Stephen Foster is the highlight of “Stephen Foster Super
Saturday,” which consists of six stakes races worth a total of $1.75 million.

Saint Liam closed out his four-year-old season with a 1 1/4-length victory in
the Clark H. (G2) at Churchill Downs. The bay won the Donn by 3 3/4 lengths in
his seasonal debut, then finished a disappointing sixth as the even-money
favorite in the Santa Anita H. (G1) on March 5.

Saint Liam has been assigned top weight of 121 pounds for the 24th running of
the Stephen Foster. Bobby Frankel will be listed as the program trainer while
Saint Liam’s regular conditioner, Richard Dutrow, is on suspension.

Grade 3 winner SECOND OF JUNE (Louis Quatorze), who finished second
by a neck in the Oaklawn H. (G2) in his most recent outing, will not run
in the Stephen Foster due to an ailment in his left hind ankle. Trainer
Bill Cesare said the colt was suffering from an osselet, which is a
collection of fluid in the joint that causes inflammation and a minor
swelling, or “wind puff.” After consulting with veterinarian Dr. Larry
Bramlage, the conditioner said the colt will need some time off.

“Doc Bramlage said a couple of months, but he’ll probably be off 60
to 90 days or something like that,” Cesare said. “It’s an irritation of
the joint. We never really had an issue with it, but I guess it was
something coming and it just happened at the wrong time.”

Other horses considered likely or possible for the Stephen Foster (with
assigned weights) are BADGE OF SILVER (Silver Deputy), 119; COLONIAL COLONY
(Pleasant Colony), 114; EUROSILVER (Unbridled’s Song), 113; GOULDINGS GREEN
(Charismatic), 112; M B SEA (Alphabet Soup), 113; PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer),
117; and POLLARD’S VISION (Carson City), 117.

Santa Margarita H. (G1) winner TARLOW (Stormin Fever) could be the starting
highweight in the $300,000 Fleur de Lis H. (G2) under 119 pounds. The
four-year-old filly, who has won two of three starts this season, is trained by
John Shirreffs, who saddled this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) winner GIACOMO (Holy
Bull).