Churchill Downs Update: Sierra Leone Arrives as 5-2 Morning Line Favorite in Saturday's $1 Million Stephen Foster

Jun 25, 2025

Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) winner Sierra Leone returns to Churchill Downs for the first time since his narrow runner-up finish to Mystik Dan in Kentucky Derby 150, this time as the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday’s $1 million Stephen Foster (GI).

Sierra Leone, owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg Limited and Brook T. Smith, had an easy gallop Wednesday morning with his co-owner Smith, along with Chad Brown’s two assistants Jose “Baldo” Hernandez and Michele Dollase watching intently from the clocker’s stand.

The Stephen Foster will mark the first meeting between Sierra Leone and Mystik Dan at Churchill Downs since their dramatic three-horse photo finish in Kentucky Derby 150 where Mystik Dan edged Sierra Leone and Forever Young by a scant nose.

Mystik Dan, campaigned by 4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm, returned to the winner’s circle last month with a 1 ¼-length score in the Blame Stakes (GIII) – the local prep for the Stephen Foster. The Kenny McPeek-trained colt has won three of his four career wins beneath the historic Twin Spires at Churchill Downs.

Mystik Dan galloped early Wednesday morning under retired jockey Robby Albarado, who holds the record for most wins in the Stephen Foster after he won the race in three straight years aboard Flashy Bull (2007), Curlin (2008) and Macho Again (2009).

Brian Hernandez Jr. has the call on Mystik Dan in Saturday’s race.

“He worked last Saturday, in company with Gould’s Gold, and it was phenomenal,” Hernandez said. “He did everything just like we wanted him to and his gallop out was very impressive. He looks like he’s going into this race well and on the right track. The nice thing about him right now is his mind is really good.”

Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Stephen Foster headlines a blockbuster 12-race program beneath the Twin Spires that also includes the 50th running of the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (GII), a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Supporting stakes include the $500,000 Wise Dan (GII); $250,000 Kelly’s Landing (GIII); $250,000 American Derby (Listed); and $250,000 Tepin (Listed).

First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Stephen Foster scheduled as Race 11 at 6:03 p.m.

The field for the Stephen Foster from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

First Mission (Luis Saez, Brad Cox, 4-1)
Mindframe (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher, 7-2)
Skippylongstocking (Jose Ortiz, Saffie Joseph Jr., 6-1)
Sierra Leone (Prat, Brown, 5-2)
Mystik Dan (Hernandez, McPeek, 3-1)
Hit Show (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 9-2)
Ashcroft (Julien Leparoux, Wayne Lukas, 30-1)
The Stephen Foster is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series with the winner receiving an all-entry fees paid berth to the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Del Mar

Saturday’s card will feature a special $3 All Turf Pick 3 that includes the trio of turf stakes contests: the Wise Dan, American Derby and Tepin. The bet, which will have a horseplayer friendly 15-percent takeout, begins with the Tepin Stakes in Race 8.

Also on Saturday, the winning connections from Kentucky Derby (Sovereignty) and Kentucky Oaks (Good Cheer) 151 will be in attendance and honored with their trophies in the Woodford Reserve Winner’s Circle. The Derby trophy ceremony will take place following Race 9 at approximately 5:05 p.m. with the Oaks trophy ceremony happening after Race 8 at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Stephen Foster day at www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

MERCANTE, BRILLIANT BERTI SET FOR REMATCH AS TOP TWO CHOICES IN $500,000 WISE DAN – Mercante (5-2) and Brilliant Berti (3-1), the top two finishers from last month’s Arlington Stakes, return as the top two choices on the morning line for Saturday’s 36th running of the $500,000 Wise Dan (Grade II), one of six stakes on the Stephen Foster Day card at Churchill Downs.

Mercante, trained by Brian Knippenberg, earned a hard-fought victory in the Arlington (GIII), edging Brilliant Berti by a neck.

“I’m so proud of this horse and so proud of Brian for bringing this horse along,” said owner/breeder Carl Pollard after the Arlington Stakes. “Bill Mott, who had him early on before Brian, did a great job with him as well but there was something always off. So, we sent him to the farm, and after a year and a half, the vet down in Simpsonville found a little problem with a tendon. I was ready to give up on him as a racehorse. I spent the money to do the surgery, and Brian kept fooling with him, and now here he is better than ever.”

Mercante, one of the few remaining runners for Pollard, the former chairman of the board for Churchill Downs Incorporated, is a 4-year-old son of Pollard’s brilliant mare Caressing, winner of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).

Jockey Joe Ramos, aboard for Mercante’s last four starts, will retain the mount and break from post No. 4.

Brilliant Berti, trained by Cherie DeVaux, will look to turn the tables in the Wise Dan. A six-time winner from 10 starts, his resumé includes victories in the Bryan Station (GIII), American Derby (Listed), Opening Verse (Listed) and Gun Runner Stakes. He will break from post 7 under Brian Hernandez Jr.

“He has to continue to step forward and all signs are that he will keep doing so,” owner Richard Klein said. “Last time in the Arlington, Brian found himself on the lead and still fought hard the entire stretch while in a position he’s not accustomed to being.”

The complete field for the Wise Dan in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):

Henro (Rafael Bejarano, Chris Hartman, 20-1)
Lagynos (Flavien Prat, Steve Asmussen, 6-1)
Mi Hermano Ramon (Antonio Fresu, Mark Glatt, 9-2)
Mercante (Ramos, Knippenberg, 5-2)
Event Detail (Irad Ortiz Jr., Will Walden, 8-1)
Taking Candy (Jose Ortiz, DeVaux, 8-1)
Brilliant Berti (Hernandez, DeVaux, 3-1)
Fort Washington (Junior Alvarado, Shug McGaughey, 6-1)
Seminole Chief (Luis Saez, Jack Sisterson, 20-1)
The Wise Dan at 1 1/16 miles on turf was carded as Race 10 of 12 with post time of 5:31 p.m. (all times Eastern).

The tremendous 12-race card also includes the $1 million Stephen Foster (GI); $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (GII); $250,000 Kelly’s Landing (GIII); $250,000 American Derby (Listed); and $250,000 Tepin. First post is 12:45 p.m.

The Wise Dan is part of a special $3 All Turf Pick 3 that will be offered on Saturday’s wagering menu. The bet will also include the American Derby and Tepin Stakes.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Stephen Foster day at www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

DERBY CITY 6 JACKPOT RISES TO $950,655 TO BEGIN CLOSING WEEK AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Horseplayers will be chasing a massive $950,655 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot on Wednesday afternoon to kick off closing week of the 2025 Spring Meet at Churchill Downs

Friday’s sequence: (with field size as of 10 a.m.)

Race 4 (2:13 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 2yo f, 5 F (10 runners)
Race 5 (2:45 p.m.): Clm 50000b, 3&up, 1 M (T) (12 runners)
Race 6 (3:18 p.m.): MC 50000, f&m, 6 F (11 runners)
Race 7 (3:50 p.m.): Alw 12500s, 4&up, 1 1/16 M (nine runners)
Race 8 (4:22 p.m.): Alw 127000n1x, 3&up, 6 F (nine runners)
Race 9 (4:55 p.m.): Mdn 120k, f&m, 5 ½ F (T) (12 runners)
Track conditions were Fast/Firm as of 10:30 a.m. with the temporary rail on the Matt Winn Turf Course set in Lane 3, 24 feet from the inside.

The Derby City 6 Jackpot tests bettors to correctly select all six winners, and if they have the only winning combination, they will take down the entire jackpot. If there are multiple winning combinations, 90 percent of the day’s pool is paid out with the other 10 percent going to the carryover. If there are no correct combinations, the entire day’s pool will be added to the jackpot.

Sunday’s card will feature mandatory payout in all wagers.

SPECIAL ALL TURF PICK 3 OFFERED CLOSING WEEKEND – A special $3 All-Turf Pick 3 has been added to the wagering menu for Saturday and Sunday’s cards at Churchill Downs, the final two days of the 43-day Spring Meet.

The $3 All-Turf Pick 3 will have an all-stakes sequence for the Saturday card and feature the $500,000 Wise Dan (Grade II), $250,000 American Derby (Listed) and $250,000 Tepin Stakes (Listed).

The bet will have a horseplayer-friendly 15-percent takeout and be available to bet on track at Churchill Downs, simulcast and ADW outlets across North America and www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

The Saturday sequence will begin with the Tepin Stakes in Race 8 at 4:25 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

The bet for Sunday’s card begins in Race 5 at 2:46 p.m. The sequence includes a wide-open field of allowance horses (Race 5, 11 entries), the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes (Race 9, nine entries) and an uber-competitive cast in a maiden special weight (Race 12, 12 entries plus three also-eligibles).

Along with the $3 All-Turf Pick 3, the closing day will include mandatory payouts in all wagers.

For more information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com

DOWN THE STRETCH – Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna was slated as the 3-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis (GII), a “Win and You’re In” Distaff division race for the Breeders’ Cup. … Jockey Corey Lanerie was two wins away from matching Calvin Borel’s second-all time win total at Churchill Downs with 1,232 victories. He had mounts in Races 3, 8 and 9 on Wednesday. … Jockey Jose Ortiz entered Wednesday’s card with a 47-44 win lead over Luis Saez in the standings. Brian Hernandez Jr. was in third with 33 wins. On the trainer side, Joe Sharp held a slight 16-15 lead over Brad Cox. Steve Asmussen loomed in third with 10 wins. Godolphin’s nine victories at the meet were three ahead of second place Calumet Farm. David Jacobson was in third with five wins. … Thursday is the first day of entries at Ellis Park for the 25-day season that begins Thursday, July 3. … Rebel Stakes (GII) winner Coal Battle returned to the Churchill Downs work tab Wednesday with a half-mile breeze in :49 with Lanerie aboard. Trainer Lonnie Briley said Coal Battle could run over the summer at Ellis Park. … For more information on the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.