Spot plays for 2026 Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs

Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs will undoubtedly be the most popular card in the country on Saturday, with none of the stakes looking particularly lopsided. I'll be attacking three of those, plus an intriguing allowance earlier on the card.

Race 4: Allowance 2:15 p.m. ET

Hall of Fame mare Songbird has yet to throw a black-type performer, but her Curlin filly, #7 Soaring High (8-1), might offer some value in this entry-level test over a one-turn mile.

Far up the track behind eventual Fantasy (G2) winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) third Counting Stars in her debut last September, Soaring High lived up to her pedigree more in her May 1 comeback, gutting out a win over odds-on favorite Phantom Blue going 1 1/16 miles.

This race has attracted a lot of last-out maiden winners who earned lofty figures, Mashallah in particular, but I like that Soaring High at least had some racing foundation as a two-year-old, compared to them. And the pace figures to be lively enough, so even the slight cutback in distance is not that much of a concern.

Race 7: Mint Julep (G3), 3:53 p.m. ET

#7 In the Stars (10-1) didn't finish particularly well in her lone previous stakes attempt, checking in seventh in the Mrs. Revere (G2) last November. She's made few mistakes otherwise during the turf portion of her career, and would be on a bit of a win streak if not for the Mrs. Revere.

A comeback winner last month at Keeneland, she outfinished (by a nose) next-out winner Bracelet, who had actually finished ahead of In the Stars in the Mrs. Revere, so the form of that race beyond the top two of Lush Lips and Pretty Picture has worked out well. In a race filled with fillies and mares that are fairly well exposed, In the Stars represents a contender with scope for further improvement.

Race 10: Blame (G3), 5:28 p.m. ET

The expected withdrawal of Vibe will lower the price on #6 Original Sin (15-1), but he should still be bettable, given his lack of stakes experience.

Although he's blown hot and cold since joining Brendan Walsh, his allowance wins this season at Fair Grounds and Keeneland were rock solid, especially the latter. A similarly fast effort would easily put him in the mix here.

As for his poor run two back as the favorite, I'm drawing a line through it, given the trouble he encountered. And for what it's worth, the winning Corporate Power came back to run a strong second in the New Orleans Classic (G2) and then won the Alysheba (G2).

Race 11: Arlington (G3), 5:59 p.m. ET

In a relatively bunched-up finish to the April 30 Opening Verse S., the horse to take out of it is arguably #6 Minaret Station (15-1). To miss by a length against that field off a 10-month layoff was commendable, and surely he comes forward from that effort.

Prior to that absence, Minaret Station had won three straight, including the Bourbon (G2) and the American Derby. There's more to come from this four-year-old, and the Will Walden barn has impressively struck with six of its first 14 starters this meet.