Racing Roundtable: Stephen Foster Preview Day and Belmont lookahead
Mystik Dan wins the Blame at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
June 3rd, 2025
On this week's Racing Roundtable, James Scully, Vance Hanson, and Ashley Anderson discuss Mystik Dan's return to the winner's circle in the Blame (G3) on Stephen Foster Preview Day. Then they grade the top performers in other stakes action and look ahead to the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga this weekend.
Churchill Downs hosted an 11-race program on Saturday that included six stakes in the final six races on the day. Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan seized victory in the headliner, the 1 1/8-mile Blame, the local prep for the $1 million Stephen Foster S. (G1) on June 28.
The Kenny McPeek trainee had not reached the winner's circle since his Kentucky Derby 150 triumph in May of 2024 and snapped a five-loss streak in the Blame when drawing clear to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths over six rivals.
One race earlier, Turf Classic (G1) runner-up Mercante outlasted Brilliant Berti by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile Arlington (G3). Other notable winners on the Stephen Foster Preview Day card include Rodolphe Brisset-trained Royal Spa in the Shawnee (G3), massive upset victor Durante in the Aristides (G3), and three-year-old filly Fionn in the Regret (G3).
Outside Churchill Downs, Nysos rebounded off his neck second to Mindframe in the Churchill Downs S. (G1) with a dominant, 5 1/2-length score in the Triple Bend (G3) at Santa Anita, and 2024 Canadian champion 3-year-old Caitlinhergrtness made her four-year-old debut at Woodbine with a five-length tally in the Belle Mahone (G3).
Belmont Draw Images
(Courtesy of Coglianese Photography)
Workouts at Saratoga
(Courtesy of Coglianese Photography)
Journalism trains at Saratoga for Belmont Stakes 2025 (photo by Coglianese Photos)
Journalism trains at Saratoga for Belmont Stakes 2025 (photo by Coglianese Photos)
Ridriguez in his stall at Saratoga for the 2025 Belmont Stakes (Photo by Cogliaense Photos)
Baeza, named for a three-time Belmont-winning jockey, could make history for dam Puca (Photo by Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photos)
Hill Road training at Saratoga for the Belmont Stakes (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher)
Join us on June 7 for a rematch that will shake the stands. Many top Kentucky Derby contenders return for the Belmont S. (G1) to fight for the finish, including probable contender Journalism, winner of Preakness 150, and Sovereignty, winner of Derby 151. Who will stand in the winner's circle for Belmont?
Stay with us throughout Belmont Day during stakes races as we bring you the latest horse racing news, live odds, expert picks, and more. It is sure to be an exciting day of racing!
Also, come chat with our expert panel regarding Friday and Saturday racing during Saratoga's Friday card, including the Acorn Stakes!
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