Top-Class Field Assembles for Grade 1 Stephen Foster

The talented six year-old Lea is the 7/5 morning line favorite as the Bill Mott trainee seeks his first grade 1 stakes victory. In three starts this year, Lea has won the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope and finished a narrow second in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap – both at Gulfstream Park – before running third the $10 million Dubai World Cup. Lea has bankrolled over $1.1 million in 2015 and $1.8 million in his career. Despite the “Dubai Effect” that often plagues horses making their first starts following the long journey, Mott has proven successful in similar situations with champion Royal Delta returning from a start in the Dubai World Cup to win the 2012 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill. Lea recorded the fastest four furlong move of 69 runners working the same distance at Saratoga June 6 in his final tune-up for the Foster.

Baffert sends out another stable star

Trainer Bob Baffert will look to continue his run of success following American Pharoah’s Triple Crown triumph with Hoppertunity (5/2), returning to make his first start since a third place finish in the Grade 2 San Antonio February 7. Hoppertunity has already proven his class and affinity for the Churchill Downs surface, winning the Grade 1 Clark Handicap last November.

Commissioner in top form 

Commissioner (3/1) easily won the Grade 3 Pimlico Special May 15 and was runner-up in the 2014 Belmont to eventual winner Tonalist. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the four year-old colt appears to be razor-sharp.