Stephen Foster

Saturday’s $750,000 Stephen Foster H. (G1) is the highlight of six graded
stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday and drew a terrific field of 10. BRASS HAT
(Prized) has really come on this year for trainer William “Buff” Bradley, easily
winning the Donn H. (G1) and New Orleans H. (G2) before shipping over to Dubai
to record an excellent second in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). Horses from the
Dubai World Cup have run very well when returning to the United States for the
Stephen Foster, with Victory Gallop and Street Cry (Ire) each recording smashing
victories in their first start back and Captain Steve just missing with a close
second, and we expect to see more of the same.

Brass Hat owns some tactical speed and should have enough pace to set up his
late rally with LOVE OF MONEY (Not for Love) going all out for the early lead
and BUZZARDS BAY (Marco Bay) keeping him honest while tracking. The
five-year-old gelding has notched BRIS Late Pace ratings of 114 and 112 in his
last two U.S. starts, with Speed ratings of 103 and 113, and we’ll look for him
to close strongly for the victory here under Willie Martinez.

Buzzards Bay brings outstanding form and huge BRIS Speed ratings into the 1
1/8-mile event, winning the All American H. (G3) from just off the pace two
starts back and the Oaklawn H. (G2) in wire-to-wire fashion last time. The Ron
Ellis-trained colt earned a 114 Speed rating for his 6 1/2-length romp at
Oaklawn, and the second, third and fourth-place finishers all returned to win
stakes races in their next start. Buzzards Bay appears to be training superbly
for his return from a 70-day freshening, and he’ll be extremely difficult to
beat if he keeps improving. Jockey Jose Valdivia will keep his mount close to
the pacesetter through the early stages, and Buzzards Bay figures to get the
jump on his main challengers.

WEST VIRGINIA (Tomorrows Cat) owns a 10-3-3-1 mark at nine furlongs and has
run the two best races of his career from a Speed-figure standpoint in his last
two starts, receiving a 112 for his Excelsior Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) score two
starts back and a 107 for a third in the Pimlico Special H. (G1) last out.
Trained by the ever-dangerous Todd Pletcher, the five-year-old enters at the top
of his game and figures to sit a favorable stalking trip with his natural speed.
West Virginia receives a positive jockey switch to Garrett Gomez, and we’ll look
for him to add some value to the bottom of the exotics.

PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer) concluded his 2005 campaign with good thirds in
both the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Clark H. (G2), but trainer Murray
Johnson put him on turf for his first two efforts this year. Those efforts are
complete throw-outs because the seven-year-old gelding isn’t half the horse on
grass as he is on the main track. Perfect Drift loves Churchill, winning the
2003 Stephen Foster and placing many times in stakes events, including the 2002
Kentucky Derby (G1), and we could easily envision him closing late for a share
on Saturday.

WILD DESERT (Wild Rush) merits consideration for the top three if he runs,
but trainer Richard Dutrow indicated this week that he’ll likely scratch in favor of the
Suburban H. (G1) on July 1. Winner of last year’s Queen’s Plate, the
four-year-old ran a big race last time off a 9 1/2-month layoff, finishing
second by a head in the Alysheba S. on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard. He could
continue to improve off that showing if he runs in this spot.

COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid) was a surprise entrant from Patrick Biancone, who
is winning at only a 47 percent clip this meet (seven wins in 15 starts), and
the French conditioner could possibly get a minor award here with the
late-running gray. After racing mostly on grass, Cosmonaut has made his last
three attempts on the main track and earned century-topping Speed ratings each
time. The improving four-year-old is one to consider for the gimmicks at nice
odds.

Love of Money is the speed, but he’s got distance and class concerns in this
spot. He did capture the 2004 Pennsylvania Derby (G2) at the distance, but the
lightly raced dark bay was able to run away from his rivals on the far turn that
afternoon and that scenario isn’t likely to happen on Saturday. Love of Money
wasn’t a significant factor in his next two attempts against better company at a
route, and we’d like him a whole lot better if this race was held at a mile.
Dutrow has raved about his charge’s present condition, which
will probably knock down Love of Money’s price, but we’ll go against.

WIGGINS (Cartwright) is doing well currently, winning a listed stakes at
Hawthorne before easily taking an 8 1/2-furlong allowance over the track last
time, but he’ll probably find this class hike too difficult. SEEK GOLD (Touch
Gold) finished a good second to Saint Liam in the 2004 Clark, but he’s gone off
form this season and will make his first start for trainer Ron Moquett after
being transferred from Nick Zito. We can’t recommend his chances. M B SEA
(Alphabet Soup) doesn’t look fast enough to challenge.