Tom Pedulla offers takeaways from the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, which carried a fees-paid berth to the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar, and other major developments this weekend.

ON THE RISE: Kingsbarns, who won the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby last year at 3 and the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland earlier this year, displayed a maturity that was lacking as a sophomore when he captured the Stephen Foster by 2 ½ lengths from runner-up Pyrenees on Saturday. He covered the mile and an eighth in 1:48.09 for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Luis Saez. “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,” Pletcher said. “He sat a perfect trip today and really kicked well when turning for home.” Skippylongstocking took third with odds-on favorite First Mission fourth. Kingsbarns’ earnings ballooned to $1,559,060 on behalf of Spendthrift Farm.

Scylla after Fleur de Lis win. (Eclipse Sportswire)

BRED FOR SUCCESS: Juddmonte homebred Scylla, a full-sister (same sire [father] and dam [mother]) to $3.7 million earner Tacitus and to Ohio Derby winner Batten Down, continued her ascent by winning the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs. She closed from last to edge Shotgun Hottie by a neck and survived a stewards’ inquiry and a jockey’s objection in prevailing for the first time at a mile and an eighth. “I thought she handled it very well to get the longer distance,” jockey Javier Castellano said. “She’s been one who’s kept improving in each of her next starts to get to the next level.” Four-year-old Scylla, a daughter of Tapit out of five-time Grade 1 winner Close Hatches, is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott. His horses are known for their ability to improve with age.

NOT THE PLAN: Godolphin’s Ottoman Fleet, trained by Charles Appleby, displayed a powerful late kick when he rallied to win the Arlington Stakes at Churchill four weeks ago. For that reason, jockey Flavien Prat expected to find himself anywhere but on the lead in Saturday’s $500,000, Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes beneath the Twin Spires. But that is the way it unfolded as the 5-year-old gelding easily repelled Chasing the Crown by 1 ½ lengths. “We sort of just found ourselves on the lead and just went on with it,” Prat said. “He was traveling so nicely that I just let him keep doing it on the front end. Turning for home, he still had a lot left in the tank to kick clear at the wire.” Ottoman Fleet, in winning for the seventh time in 19 starts, became a millionaire as his earnings grew to $1,088,717.

EYEING KING’S PLATE: Essex Serpent, making only his third career start, stamped himself as a contender for the 165th edition of the King’s Plate on Aug. 17 at Woodbine when he produced a strong one-length victory Saturday in the Grade 3 HPIbet Marine Stakes. The son of Honor Code, with Patrick Husbands aboard, covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.03 on Woodbine’s all-weather track. Essex Serpent was one of three stakes winners Saturday for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. When Husbands was asked about their prospects in the King’s Plate, he responded, “Let the horse talk.”

NEW DIRECTION: Deterministic, once on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, began a new chapter in his career when he finished second in the Grade 3 Manila Stakes Saturday at Belmont at the Big A in his first grass race. Trainer Christophe Clement decided to make the move after the Gotham Stakes victor ran a disappointing eighth in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino and fifth in the Peter Pan Stakes. The Liam’s Map colt missed overtaking Neat by three-quarters of a length in the Manila. “First time grass and he handled it well,” said jockey Dylan Davis. Deterministic showed his greenness on turf when he switched leads several times during the stretch run. “Everything was new out there,” said Dylan, who noted that his mount galloped out in front of Neat.