The $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes, an important event on the national calendar, takes place this Saturday (July 1).

This will be the most lucrative race ever run at Ellis Park. To put that into perspective, the richest race contested at the Kentucky track last year was the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby.

Originally named Dade Park, Ellis Park first conducted racing in 1922. There were five days of harness racing and 10 days of Thoroughbred racing there that year.

I was at Ellis Park in 2007 to anchor HRTV’s coverage of the Claiming Crown when it was held there that year. Ellis is one of the 65 racetracks that I have visited, a list that began when my parents first took me to the races on April 12, 1964. That first track for me was Yakima Meadows in my home state of Washington.

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster typically is contested at Churchill Downs. But it has been switched to Ellis this year due to the spring-summer race meet at Churchill being adjourned earlier than scheduled following a spate of equine fatalities at the Louisville venue.

Five times a horse has won both the Stephen Foster and the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic in the same year. The first to do it was Black Tie Affair in 1991. He was followed by Awesome Again in 1998, Saint Liam in 2005, Blame in 2010 and Gun Runner in 2017.

Black Tie Affair, Saint Liam and Gun Runner were elected Horse of the Year the same year in which they captured both the Stephen Foster and BC Classic.

This year’s Stephen Foster has attracted a strong field headed by Proxy and Smile Happy, two horses currently ranked in the Top 10 in the NTRA’s Top Thoroughbred Poll. Proxy is No. 8. Smile Happy is No. 9.

Indicating just how competitive this race is, the morning-line odds for six of the eight entrants range from 3-1 to 6-1. For me, this is a very tough race to come up with a top pick.

Smile Happy, trained by Kenny McPeek, is the morning-line favorite, but only at a tepid 3-1. He’s coming off a huge effort, a 110 Beyer Speed Figure, when victorious by two lengths in Churchill’s Grade II Alysheba Stakes on May 5. It was his highest Beyer yet in eight career starts. His previous top had been a 101.

Do I trust Smile Happy to repeat his Alysheba performance this Saturday? I do not.

Granted, it’s been eight weeks since Smile Happy’s last start, which means he will have had the time to replenish his gas tank to keep from “bouncing,” or regressing, from running such a big race in the Alysheba. But I just have a feeling that he isn’t going to come close to duplicating that 110 Beyer this Saturday.

Brian Hernandez rode Smile Happy in the Alysheba. I find it interesting that Hernandez will be aboard Rattle N Roll in the Stephen Foster rather than Smile Happy. Corey Lanerie will be Smile Happy’s pilot this Saturday.

It is true that Hernandez has ridden the McPeek-trained Rattle N Roll in eight of his 10 career starts, while Lanerie does have a familiarity with Smile Happy in that they have collaborated in half of the colt’s eight lifetime starts.

But considering what a terrific race Smile Happy ran in the Alysheba when Hernandez was in the saddle, I just can’t help being surprised Hernandez isn’t riding the 4-year-old son of Runhappy again this Saturday.

West Will Power (pictured above) is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. The 6-year-old Bernardini colt has reeled off five consecutive triple-digit Beyers -- 102, 100, 103, 109 and 106. His 109 figure came when he won Fair Grounds’ Grade II New Orleans Classic by an emphatic 4 3/4 lengths. But then he ran third as the 3-5 favorite when Smile Happy won the Alysheba at 7-1.

I expect West Will Power to run well and post another triple-digit Beyer in this race. And I am giving him the slightest of nods as my top pick.

My selections for the Stephen Foster are below:

1. West Will Power

2. Proxy

3. Smile Happy

4. Rattle N Roll

I came very close to making stretch-runner Proxy my top choice. He’s 4-1 on the morning line. The 5-year-old Tapit colt probably will come charging late.

In his most recent start, Proxy registered a head victory in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap on April 22 for trainer Michael Stidham.

Proxy finished third to Olympiad and Americanrevolution in last year’s Stephen Foster. Olympiad is retired. Americanrevolution hasn’t raced since finishing second to Olympiad in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup last year on Sept. 3, but he has recorded a number of recent workouts for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Last Samurai and Stilleto Boy, who were narrowly beaten by Proxy in the Oaklawn Handicap, are each 6-1 on the Stephen Foster morning line.

In the Oaklawn Handicap, Last Samurai lost by a head while nosing out Stilleto Boy for the place.

Last Samurai finished fourth in the Alysheba. He won Oaklawn Park’s Grade III Razorback Handicap and Grade III Essex Handicap earlier this year.

In Stilleto Boy’s two 2023 starts prior to the Oaklawn Handicap, he ran third in the Grade I Pegasus World Cup and won the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap in which he defeated runner-up Proxy by a neck.

BEYERS FOR STEPHEN FOSTER WINNERS

Below are Beyer Speed Figures for winners of the Stephen Foster Stakes going back to 1992 (the first year they were listed in the American Racing Manual):

2022 Olympiad (111)
2021 Maxfield (103)
2020 Tom’s d’Etat (109)
2019 Seeking the Soul (104)
2018 Pavel (101)
2017 Gun Runner 110
2016 Bradester (101)
2015 Noble Bird (108)
2014 Moonshine Mullin (101)
2013 Fort Larned (115)
2012 Ron the Greek (100)
2011 Pool Play (102)
2010 Blame (103)
2009 Macho Again 100
2008 Curlin (110)
2007 Flashy Bull (105)
2006 Seek Gold (99)
2005 Saint Liam (111)
2004 Colonial Colony (110)
2003 Perfect Drift (117)
2002 Street Cry (118)
2001 Guided Tour (117)
2000 Golden Missile (116)
1999 Victory Gallop (118)
1998 Awesome Again (118)
1997 City By Night (115)
1996 Tenants Harbor (109)
1995 Recoup the Cash (105)
1994 Recoup the Cash (108)
1993 Root Boy (99)
1992 Discover (111)
1991 Black Tie Affair (104)

TWO PHIL’S RETIRED AFTER OHIO DERBY TRIUMPH

In my ranking of the nation’s leading 3-year-old males last week for Xpressbet.com, I put Two Phil’s at No. 1. He then went out and won the Grade III Ohio Derby with authority at Thistledown last Saturday (June 24).

Close up early in the field of eight, Two Phil’s swept past chief opponent Bishops Bay turning for home while on his way to an authoritative 5 3/4-length victory as the 3-5 favorite.

Bishops Bay, the 7-5 second choice in the wagering, finished second. It was seven lengths back to 18-1 Hayes Strike in third.

Gerardo Corrales rode Two Phil’s in the Ohio Derby when the colt’s regular rider, Jareth Loveberry, had to miss the race due to an injury. While riding at Canterbury Park on June 21, Loveberry reportedly injured his left arm when riding Artemus Citylimits in the Dark Star Turf Sprint.

Artemus Citylimits broke so awkwardly that Loverberry’s left foot momentarily came out of the left stirrup in the first few strides, which for some reason is not noted in the Equibase chart comments. Loveberry later had to steady Artemus Citylimits sharply going into the far turn, which also is absent from the Equibase chart comments. Artemus Citylimits finished fifth for trainer Michael Maker.

The Equibase chart comment for Artemus Citylimits said that he “chased the pace setters on the inside up the backstretch, saved ground around the bend and weakened in the final furlong.”

Talk about missing relevant aspects to a horse’s performance.

Two Phil’s recorded a robust 105 Beyer for his Ohio Derby win, matching his career-best figure. He also was credited with a 105 Beyer when the runner-up to Mage in the Grade I Kentucky Derby.

The Ohio Derby was the third straight triple-digit Beyer for Two Phil’s, who recorded a 101 when he won the Grade III Jeff Ruby by 5 1/4 lengths on synthetic on March 25.

After Two Phil’s ran so well in the Kentucky Derby and then won the Ohio Derby with such authority, it appeared Two Phil’s was ready to make a serious run at the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old male during the remainder of 2023. However, it turns out that he will never race again.

Daily Racing Form’s Marcus Hersh broke the news Wednesday (June 28) that Two Phil’s has been retired from racing. The Kentucky-bred Hard Spun colt emerged from the Ohio Derby with an ankle injury that was detected the morning after the race, according to trainer Larry Rivelli.

Radiographs of the colt’s injured ankle were sent to Dr. Larry Bramlage of the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky. Hersh reported that the decision was made to retire Two Phil’s after “a fractured sesamoid was diagnosed and Bramlage deemed the prognosis for Two Phil’s fully recovering his racing capacity ‘poor to fair,’ according to Rivelli.”

“It’s devastating,” Rivelli said. “This is the fastest horse I’ve ever trained, and he was just blossoming.”

With Two Phil’s having exited the racing stage for good, Mage moves to the top of my Top 10 in the 3-year-old male division, as listed below:

Rank Horse (Comment)

1. Mage (Kentucky Derby win, then 3rd in slower-pace Preakness.)

2. Arcangelo (Belmont victor’s figs are rising -- 53, 70, 84, 97, 102.)

3. Forte (Splendid try to finish 2nd in Belmont off 10-week layoff.)

4. Arabian Knight (Untested in 2 starts and gearing up for return.)

5. Arabian Lion (109 Beyer in Woody Stephens triumph.)

6. National Treasure (Preakness hero lacks a triple-digit Beyer.)

7. Disarm (Big player rest of year after 102 Beyer in Matt Winn?)

8. Extra Anejo (Impressive win at Ellis Park to avenge lone loss.)

9. Geaux Rocket Ride (Headed to Haskell after Affirmed victory.)

10. Tapit Trice (Lots of talent and still may contend for an Eclipse.)

Bubbling Under My Top 10 (in alphabetical order):

Angel of Empire, Blazing Sevens, Hit Show, Practical Move, Skinner, Salute the Stars, Verifying.

TOP 10 IN THIS WEEK’S NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL

Rank Points Horse (First-Place Votes)

1. 315 Cody’s Wish (27)
2. 274 Elite Power (5)
3. 225 Clairiere
4. 147 In Italian
5. 145 Up to the Mark
6. 128 Defunded
7. 113 Caravel
8. 98 Proxy
9. 69 Smile Happy
10. 60 Art Collector