GII Fleur de Lis S.

With the Breeders' Cup a little over four months away, the 'Win and You're In' tickets to the signature event, the GI Longines Classic, are definitely numbered. The road to Del Mar currently goes through Churchill Downs on Saturday as Classic hopefuls enter the starting gate for the GI Stephen Foster Stakes. Looking to punch his ticket to the seaside oval is Godolphin homebred First Mission (Street Sense). The 'TDN Rising Star' certainly burned brightest when he took home the GIII Essex Handicap by five lengths at Oaklawn Park in...

Churchill Downs and Fasig-Tipton have formed a new three-year partnership where the sales company will be the official sponsor of the GI La Troienne S., the GII Fleur de Lis S. and the GII Locust Grove S., the track said in a release Friday. The $1 million Fasig-Tipton La Troienne will kick off the series on Kentucky Oaks Day. The Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis is scheduled for Saturday, June 29 during Stephen Foster Day. That race is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series, which awards the top...

Fausto Gutierrez can remember staring up at the television two years ago watching the GI Apple Blossom Handicap. He was back home in Mexico as Mike Smith piloted Midnight Bisou into the winner's circle with Steve Asmussen looking on. Midnight Bisou would go on to claim championship honors that year, joining the impressive list of Stellar Wind, Forever Unbridled, Untapable, Close Hatches, Havre de Grace, Zenyatta, Azeri and Gourmet Girl as Apple Blossom heroines of this century to also hold an Eclipse title. Gutierrez knew it was a race exclusively...

Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) was back to her best form Saturday at Churchill Downs, winning the GII Fleur de Lis H. with ease in her first start back on U.S. soil since finishing an ultra-game second in the Saudi Cup in February. GI Kentucky Oaks victress Serengeti Empress (Alternation) jetted straight to the lead, while favored Midnight Bisou bided her time back in mid-pack through a brisk :23.18 first quarter. Inched closer by Mike Smith, Midnight Bisou moved up into third, while still several lengths off the pacesetter, as...