Spendthrift Farm's Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) earned an automatic berth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic with a dominant victory in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs Saturday. The 2-1 shot rated just off the pace as First Mission (Street Sense) and Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) took the field through a moderate opening quarter in :24.13. First Mission, the 4-5 favorite, took charge as the half went up in :48.38, but Kingsbarns was rolling up three wide to grab control into the stretch. The favorite attempted to fight back, but Kingsbarns had all the momentum and soon kicked away to a clear advantage. Pyrenees (Into Mischief), who reeled in Kingsbarns in the final strides to win the GIII Pimlico Special in May, chased home in vain Saturday.
“We're extremely proud of this horse's effort and for the entire team behind him,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “Obviously winning a Grade I is a tremendous accomplishment. I think we've seen this year he's been able to settle better than when he was a 3-year-old and show that new dimension. He sat a perfect trip today and really kicked well when turning for home.”
Kingsbarns opened his career with three straight victories, earning a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby with a win in the GII Louisiana Derby last spring.
He pressed the pace in the Derby before fading to be a well-beaten 14th on the First Saturday in May. The bay colt went to the sidelines following a narrowly beaten runner-up effort in the June 17 Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park, but returned to the winner's circle in his 2024 unveiling in a Mar. 2 optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. He captured the Apr. 20 GIII Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland and had the lead late in the May 17 Pimlico Special only to be overtaken by Pyrenees in the final jumps last time out.
“We're all thrilled for winning a Grade I with this horse,” said Ned Toffey, General Manager of Spendthrift Farm. “At Spendthrift Farm we are in the stallion-making business and winning a Grade I obviously means we have to get a stall ready for him in the stud barn when he finishes his racing career.”
Pedigree Notes:
Graded-placed Lady Tapit has a 2-year-old colt by Gun Runner who was purchased by John Stewart's Resolute Racing for $650,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, and a yearling filly by Munnings. She produced a colt by Not This Time this year. The mare is a half-sister to Grade I winner Gozzip Girl (Dynaformer).
Kingsbarns's victory gave Uncle Mo his second graded win of the afternoon, following Sabatini's win in the GIII Selene S. at Woodbine.
Saturday, Churchill Downs
STEPHEN FOSTER S.-GI, $1,000,000, Churchill Downs, 6-29, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.09, ft.
1–KINGSBARNS, 124, c, 4, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Lady Tapit (GSP), by Tapit
2nd Dam: Temperence Gift, by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Shapiro's Mistress, by Unpredictable
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($250,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG; $800,000 2yo
'22 FTFMAR). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Parks Investment
Group, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Luis Saez. $601,260.
Lifetime Record: 9-6-2-0, $1,559,060. Werk Nick Rating: A+++
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pyrenees, 124, c, 4, Into Mischief–Our Khrysty, by
Newfoundland. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($350,000 RNA Wlg '20
KEENOV; $380,000 RNA 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O/B-Blue Heaven
Farm (Bonnie Baskin & Adam Corndorf) (KY); T-Cherie
DeVaux. $194,600.
3–Skippylongstocking, 124, h, 5, Exaggerator–Twinkling, by
War Chant. ($15,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $37,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR).
O-Daniel Alonso; B-Brushy Hill, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
$97,300.
Margins: 2HF, HD, 3/4. Odds: 9.95, 10.33, 4.26.
Also Ran: First Mission, Steal Sunshine, Disarm, Classic Causeway, Dreamlike. Scratched: Happy American. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
“It will be Kingsbarns in the Foster!” 🏆 @BreedersCup #WinAndYoureIn #BC24
Jockey: @JRosarioJockey
Trainer: @PletcherRacing
Owner: @spendthriftfarm pic.twitter.com/6HIi2CMx9U— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 29, 2024
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
