Free Selections: Stephen Foster Day 2026 / Churchill Downs

Nothing like a free lunch. Or at least an appetizer to get you ready for a loaded Churchill Downs card this Saturday.

These are my own plays, one horseplayer's opinions. For the full AI read on every horse, color-coded by tier, grab your WinningPonies E-Z Win Form before you head to the windows. Mine ride alongside it, not instead of it.

- Best of luck. Ed.

Race 5: The $275,000 Anchorage (1 1/8 turf, 2:55pm EST)

#3 Way to Be Marie. Daughter of Not This Time turning back from 1 1/2 to 1 1/8. She is 12 for 17 ITM on the turf, with Luis Saez aboard for Eddie Kenneally. Her last race was a strong closing move where she got leg weary, so shortening up could be just what the doctor ordered.

Race 7: The G2 Fleur de Lis (1 1/8, 4:04pm EST)

#1 Splendora. Third off the shelf for this daughter of Audible in the Bob Baffert barn. Flavien Prat is in the irons and draws the rail in a field of five. Baffert wins 27% in graded stakes and won impressively in the G2 Shawnee a month ago. They hit at 36% off a last-race win, and she shows a fast work in the morning.

Race 8: The $275,000 American Derby (1 1/16 turf, 4:36pm EST)

#2 Prepped. Late-running son of More Than Ready for Cherie DeVaux with Jose Ortiz aboard. He has a quick turn of foot to close into the leaders and just broke his maiden. They have been knocking on the door, closing every time, and DeVaux knows where to spot them as they climb the ladder.

Race 9: The G3 Bango (6 1/2f, 5:08pm EST)

#2 Cornucopian. A record of 1 for 2 ITM at Churchill, exiting a win in the G3 Aristides. Flavien Prat has the call for Baffert, and they are winning at 23% as a team. Two works since his last win. Expect him to stalk mid-pack and pounce in Prat's hands.

Race 10: The G2 Wise Dan (1 1/16 turf, 5:43pm EST)

#6 Dresden Row. Son of Lord Nelson for Tony Sciametta with Irad Ortiz between the ears. He is 1 for 1 at Churchill and made a powerhouse closing move in an OC $175,000 under the Spires. Ortiz wins 22% on the grass and is the strongest closing rider in the country.

Race 11: The G1 Stephen Foster (1 1/8, 6:14pm EST)

#2 White Abarrio. Goes to post for Saffie Joseph with Irad Ortiz in the saddle. The barn has a stone-cold rabbit in the field in Forged Steel, who should set this closer up nicely. White Abarrio comes off a two-month layoff after winning at Oaklawn, beating Sovereignty at this distance. When Ortiz hits the button, look for a grey blur to start picking off runners one by one.