Churchill Downs Update: Top Contenders Finalize Preparation for Stephen Foster Preview Day; Kentucky Derby-Winning Trainer Don Combs Dies at 86

May 26, 2025

Several of North America’s top horses will converge at Churchill Downs on Saturday for Stephen Foster Preview Day, which features six stakes on an 11-race program, led by the $275,000 Blame Stakes (Grade III), the local prep for the $1 million Stephen Foster (GI) on June 28.

The Blame is headlined by Kentucky Derby 151 winner Mystik Dan, who will face nine rivals in the 1 1/8-mile event. Mystik Dan returned to Churchill Downs from Oaklawn earlier this month and recorded a swift half-mile work in :47.20 Saturday morning.

Among his challengers is Hillwood Stable’s multiple graded stakes-winning Maryland-bred Post Time. Trained by Brittany Russell, Post Time had his final work prior to the Blame on Saturday, breezing a half-mile in :48.80 at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Maryland. The 5-year-old son of Frosted recently won an allowance race by 13 lengths at Laurel Park, earning a 107 Brisnet Speed Rating, the highest figure in the Blame field. He is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday and stable in Barn 47.

Hall of Fame, third in the Alysheba (GII), had his final published workout early Monday, breezing a half-mile in :49.60 at Churchill Downs. Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith, the Steve Asmussen trainee will be reunited with jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode him to victory in the Mineshaft (GIII) earlier this year at Fair Grounds.

The complete field for the Blame from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Katonah (Gerardo Corrales, Doug O’Neill)
Alexander Helios (Irad Ortiz Jr., Saffie Joseph Jr.)
Antiquarian (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher)
Mystik Dan (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)
Best Actor (Rafael Bejarano, Ed Moger Jr.)
Hall of Fame (Jose Ortiz, Asmussen)
Most Wanted (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox)
Banishing (Flavien Prat, David Jacobson)
Post Time (Sheldon Russell, Russell)
Tennessee Lamb (Luis Saez, Rusty Arnold II)
The stakes lineup for Stephen Foster Preview Day:

Race 6 (3:18 p.m.): the $275,000 Aristides (GIII)
Race 7 (3:53 p.m.): the $275,000 Audubon (Listed)
Race 8 (4:23 p.m.): the $275,000 Shawnee (GIII)
Race 9 (4:55 p.m.): the $275,000 Arlington (GIII)
Race 10 (5:27 p.m.): the $275,000 Blame (GIII)
Race 11 (5:58 p.m.): the $275,000 Regret (GIII)
With the stakes comprising the final six races of the day, there will be an all-stakes sequence for the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot, Late Pick 5 and Late Pick 4.

KENTUCKY DERBY-WINNING TRAINER DON COMBS DIES AT 86 – Don Combs, who trained Dust Commander to victory in the 1970 Kentucky Derby, died Sunday morning at age 86.

A native of Lexington, Ky. Combs was just 31 when he saddled Dust Commander to a five-length victory in the 96th running of the Derby. The colt went off at odds of 15-1 and was ridden by Mike Manganello.

Combs began training three years prior to Dust Commander’s victory in the Derby and before that served in the U.S. Army Reserves and had several off-track jobs around the Lexington area.

Another popular horse Combs trained was Warbucks, who was 7-1 in the 1973 Kentucky Derby against Secretariat but finished last in the field of 13. Two years later, Warbucks would go on to win the Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Combs’ last starter came in 2019 at Turfway Park.

A celebration of life will be planned by friends in the coming weeks.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Monday’s Memorial Day program at Churchill Downs featured a $39,786 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot which began in Race 4. The nine-race card included the $250,000 Winning Colors (GIII) in Race 8. … Jockey John Velazquez is off his four scheduled mounts Monday because he will begin a three-day careless riding suspension. … A total of 35 horses were on the Monday work tab at Churchill Downs including Preakness Stakes fourth-place finisher Goal Oriented (three furlongs, :36.60) and Isaac Murphy Marathon winner Honor Marie (four furlongs, :47.60). The fastest work of the morning came from the D. Wayne Lukas-trained maiden Bon Temps, who blitzed a half-mile in :45.80. … Happy Birthday wishes are extended to trainer Ian Wilkes who celebrated his 60th birthday on Sunday. … Following dark days on Tuesday and Wednesday, live racing will resume beneath the historic Twin Spires Thursday-Sunday. Thursday’s eight-race card has a first post of 5 p.m. for Twilight Thursday. The evening will include $2 domestic beer, live music from Ben Bernhard and local food trucks Con Aji y Café, Hurrikanes, Romiro’s Mexican and Spinelli’s Pizza. Friday-Sunday cards have first posts of 12:45 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.