 Guided Tour winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap, Larry Melancon up. |
Stephen Foster Super Saturday
Dateline: 06/17/01
Headlining a day billed as "Stephen Foster Super Saturday" at Churchill Downs was the $831,000 Grade 2 Stephen Foster Handicap for three-year-olds and up. Guided Tour, a last minute entry in the race ridden by Larry Melancon, collared favorite Captain Steve in the final sixteenth of a mile for a half-length upset. The race was the first start for Captain Steve since his victory in the Dubai World Cup in March.
Capturing the third graded stakes of his career, and second win in five starts this year, the five-year-old gelded son of Hansel covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.74 and paid $33.40, $8.60 and $4.40. Captain Steve, the 4-5 favorite with Jerry Bailey in the irons, had the lead at the top of the stretch but couldn't hold off the winner and paid $2.80 and $2.20. Brahms, with Pat Day in the saddle, finished another 2 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.20. Results Chart
 Trainer Bob Baffert autographs t-shirts for some young fans. |
The four-year-old daughter of Storm Cat, who captured the Louisville Breeders' Cup (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day, covered the 1 1/8 miles on the fast track in 1:49.27 and paid $14.40, $5.80 and $4.40. Secret Status, the 9-5 favorite with Pat Day in the saddle, closed on the far outside to take the place spot and paid $3.80 and $3.00. Asher, a 29-1 outsider with Robby Albarado in the irons, finished another neck back in third after pressing the pace and paid $7.20. Results Chart
Also on the undercard was the $167,250 Grade 3 Regret for three-year-old fillies. Coming off a maiden victory, Casual Feat ridden by Larry Melancon made her stakes a debut a winning one as she prevailed by a length over Amaretta.
The daughter of Cozzene, who beat colts in her maiden victory on May 23 at Churchill, covered the 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf in 1:42.75 and paid $59.40, $22.40 and $6.80 as a 28-1 longshot. Amaretta, with Jon Court up, laid just behind Casual Feat on the backside and moved on the far turn to claim the place spot and paid $10.00 and $4.60. La Vida Loca, the 6-5 favorite with Jerry Bailey in the irons, finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.60. Results Chart
The stretch battle between Captain Steve and Guided Tour begins. Trainer Bob Baffert said: "I told Jerry that he was going to be a little short because I sort of rushed him into it. So he tried to preserve as much as possible and it showed up that last little part. That was guts there, holding up at the end. At the sixteenth pole I could tell he was tired. He was ready to go a mile and a sixteenth. But he just runs so hard every time."
The battle to the wire with Guided Tour on the outside and Captain Steve on the inside. Jockey Larry Melancon said: "It was exciting, because that horse knows me and I love that horse. He tries so hard and he doesn't throw no clunkers. The only bad race on his form was the Breeders' Cup (Classic) and with those other five riders that almost fell (on the first turn), he was one of them. It's just exciting to ride a horse that tries so hard."
Trainer Niall O'Callaghan and jockey Larry Melancon celebrate the victory. Niall O'Callaghan said: "There were four or five horses and they all had something that we thought might stop them and give us a chance to be third or second. That's what it was about. It was about more percentage and taking a chance."
The trophy presentation.
Guided Tour's trainer Niall O'Callaghan and Captain Steve's owner Mike Pegram greet each other in the paddock prior to the race. Mike Pegram said: "I don't know if Dubai hurt him as much as the ten pounds. But that's horse racing. When you win a lot of money you're going to give weight and we gave weight today and we got beat. So, that's part of the game. You don't like it -- but at least a good guy won the race and it's good for racing. You've just got to keep on swinging."
The field for the Stephen Foster in the paddock. Captain Steve with Jerry Bailey up, Guided Tour with Larry Melancon up, and Duckhorn with Jon Court up.
Brahms with Pat Day up, Graeme Hall with Victor Espinoza up, and Jadada with Calvin Borel up.
Da Devil with Lonnie Meche up and Unshaded with Robbie Albarado up.
Saudi Poetry won the Fleur de Lis by 1 1/4 lengths over favorite Secret Status. Trainer Bob Baffert said: "It's just a matter of maturity and since Victor has started riding her she really turned the corner. He rides her with a lot of confidence. She was a caterpillar in California and when she came here turned into this beautiful moth."
Saudi Poetry heading back to the winner's circle. Jockey Victor Espinoza said: "The last time and today she ran against the same horses. That's why I was not worried about today. I know she won last time and nobody believed in her, but I don't worry about people not believing in her. I believe in myself and the horse I ride."
Casual Feat captures the Regret Stakes as a 28-1 longshot. Trainer Steve Penrod said: "I thought she deserved a chance and with only seven others in there, I thought this was a good race. It's a Grade III stake and it's run on our home track and it's an opportunity that looked too good to pass. We didn't go in there with any thoughts that we were going to be the horse to beat, but we obviously thought she would run well."
Bob Baffert and Point given, winner of the Preakness and Belmont, pose for a portrait with their new tack trunk from a distributor at EquitanaUSA, also in Louisville for the weekend.
Photos courtesy of Tina Hines. Press releases courtesy of Churchill Downs.
On the Forum:
