Kingsbarns, who won the Grade 2 2023 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby last year as a 3-year-old, has taken the next step at age 4. Returning to Churchill Downs for the first time since a 14th-place finish in the 2023 run for the roses, Kingsbarns ran like he could prove a factor in the Classic and other major races for older males this season.
Fourth early under jockey Luis Saez, Kingsbarns settled two lengths off the pace of favored First Mission, as that one set comfortable fractions of :24.13 and :48.38 in the 1 1/8-mile race. On the turn, with Skippylongstocking applying mild pressure to the leader, Kingsbarns made his move, advancing wide into third after six furlongs in 1:11.86.
Kingsbarns then took command in early stretch and pulled away for a 2 1/2-length victory over Pyrenees, who grinded away to grab the place while no threat to the winner who raced the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.09.
"We're extremely proud of this horse's effort and for the entire team behind him," said Pletcher. "Obviously winning a Grade 1 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."
Most of the top finishers in the Stephen Foster enjoyed smooth trips, including Godolphin's First Mission, who was without an excuse in finishing fourth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths. Pyrenees and show finisher Skippylongstocking, the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap winner, surged past him in the closing sixteenth.
"Super disappointed," said First Mission's trainer, Brad Cox. "He didn't respond when the winner came up to him. That's it, regroup."
First Mission won the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes presented by Twinspires early last month at Churchill Downs and, like Kingsbarns, had been in pursuit of a stallion-making Grade 1 victory.
Horseplayers overlooked Kingsbarns Saturday, letting him drift up from his 6-1 morning line to odds of almost 10-1. He paid $21.90 to win.
Though he had been upset by Pyrenees in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special last month, Kingsbarns' other starts in 2024 had each resulted in victories, including a 3 1/4-length triumph in the April 20 Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland after a half-length triumph in a March 2 allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park.
Kingsbarns played a pace-pressing role in the Pimlico Special, but in the Stephen Foster, Saez reverted to stalking tactics he utilized in those earlier victories. Still, knowing that there was little pace in the field, he sat close to the leaders.
"Around the far turn, he really found his stride nicely and just took me from there," Saez said. "He fought hard down the entire stretch."
Both Saez and Pletcher both collected their first wins in the prestigious Stephen Foster.
Through the years, Stephen Foster winners Black Tie Affair (1991), Awesome Again (1998), Saint Liam (2005), Blame (2010), and Gun Runner (2017) added a Breeders' Cup Classic win during the same season.
