Saturday is a huge day at Churchill Downs, as American Pharoah is going to be making an appearance in his home paddocks for the first time since winning the Triple Crown.
However, it is also one of the biggest days of summer racing at Churchill Downs as well.
The winner of Saturday's Grade II Stephen Foster Handicap will not only claim the largest prize in a massive $500,000 prize pool, but he will also win an automatic spot into the Breeders' Cup Classic in the fall.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Don't expect to see any major favorite come out of the woodwork in this race. There are two horses ranked in the Top 100 in the world right now who are probables for the Stephen Foster Handicap, that being Lea and Commissioner, both of which have had a ton of success.
Majestic Harbor and Golden Ticket are likely to be just off of the odds set by the two favorites, while Sky Captain, Cat Burglar, Noble Bird and Paganol are set to round out this field, all of which will likely have double-digit odds on their heads.
Rockport Harbor is also a possibility to join this race, though he would be racing with just three weeks of prep time, something that seven-year old colts such as him are not used to.
FAVORITE TO FOLLOW
Todd Pletcher might have failed miserably at the Triple Crown races this year, but he still has a lot of really good colts who could play a role in the Breeders' Cup. One of his best horses is Commissioner, who is just a year removed from finishing second at the Belmont Stakes.
It wasn't a great start to the year for Commissioner in 2015, as he failed as a favorite in an allowance optional claiming race, then he finished sixth in a nine-horse field in his next race.
Since then though, he won the Skip Away Stakes and the Pimlico Special, the latter of which came on the same day as the Preakness Stakes.
Commissioner has evolved into quite the speed ball in his career, and we think that he should flash that speed at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday as well.
UNDERDOG TO WATCH
Sky Captain has been running on the grass recently, but has really flown around the track in workouts of late. He turned five furlongs in 0:58 and 4 over the weekend, a stunning performance out of a pony who only has four wins in 14 races in his career.
We're not fond of the fact that Sky Captain also has a lot of speed like so many others in this race, but anything beyond about 10 to 1 would probably make him a great price.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
We haven't spoken about Lea yet though, and he could end up being the big difference maker. His 1 1/4-mile race at 2:03 and 2 at the Dubai World Cup was nothing to write home about, but he’s been an odds-on favorite or near to it everywhere he has gone aside from that.
This could be Lea's day in the event that all of the speed plays itself out of contention over this long distance.
Commissioner belongs in your exotics for sure, and adding in Sky Captain with Lea as well might at least make for a respectable triple. Still, don't expect to get rich off of the Stephen Foster Handicap.
Play Lea to win the Stephen Foster Handicap
BookMaker's online racebook will carry all of the great horse racing odds for this Saturday race. Bet on every major track in North America with just a few simple clicks of your mouse, and parlay your wagers for even bigger winnings with rebates of up to 8%.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker's new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here, and start wagering right now! Bet on horse racing today with the Stephen Foster Handicap, which goes to post on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 9:39 p.m. ET at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Live coverage of this race will be seen on NBC Sports Network.
