The Stephen Foster has long been one of those special events on the Thoroughbred racing calendar. First run some 44 years ago, this mile and an eighth run over the Churchill Downs dirt has long been a showcase for talent in the older male division. The 2025 edition promises to be more of the same as a star-studded field competes for a Breeders' Cup Classic berth and a share of the $1 million in purse money.

  As the centerpiece of a huge day of racing on closing weekend at this iconic oval in Louisville, Kentucky, the Foster highlights a 12 race card that features six Stakes. A quick perusal of the entrants tells us the Foster features the 2024 Kentucky Derby champ (Mystik Dan), the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic winner (Sierra Leone), the 2025 Oaklawn Handicap winner (First Mission), the 2025 Hollywood Gold Cup champion (Skippylongstocking), the 2025 Dubai World Cup victor (Hit Show), and the 2025 Churchill Downs Stakes winner (Mindframe). Loaded like a baked potato, this grade 1 race has the makings of the "race of the Year". The seven entrants have combined to bank just over $26 million in on-track earnings.

  Carded as race 11, the Foster follows some other intriguing Stakes races. The Fleur de Lis will see defending horse of the year Thorpedo Anna return to the track after a disappinting seventh place finish in the La Troienne Stakes on May 2. The Wise Dan is a mile and a sixteenth tussel on the Churchill turf that features a pair of local stars in Mercante and Brilliant Berti. The American Derby closes the show and is a three year old male race on grass, but features two horses that ran in this year's Kentucky Derby (Flying Mohawk, Tiztastic).

  First post is slated for 12:45 eastern with the Fopster scheduled to go off at approximately 6:05 eastern.