West Will Power Earns Classic Berth in Stephen Foster
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
West Will Power outlasts Rattle N Roll in the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs
History unfolded July 1 in the muggy warmth of Henderson, Ky., as Gary and Mary West's homebred West Will Power geared down to win the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1)—Ellis Park's first time to host a grade 1 race in 101 years of operation.
The Stephen Foster had a change in venue this year, moved to the Western Kentucky oval from its usual home at Churchill Downs after a dozen equine fatalities at Churchill Downs caused the second half of that track's spring meet to be moved to Ellis Park.
Up for grabs among a strong field of eight, along with substantial prize money, was an automatic, paid berth into the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.
Speed Bias under Luis Saez was first from the gate and headed quickly to the front while the Flavien Prat-piloted West Will Power was right on top of the pace for second, and Stilleto Boy ran in third. Those three held their positions firm until the final turn approached and Prat made his move.
Urged down the middle of the fast dirt track, West Will Power opened up to break away from his competitors while Rattle N Roll came up furiously to challenge in the final strides and Happy American made a bid from the inside rail—none of which were successful.
West Will Power wins the Stephen Foster Stakes at Ellis Park
The Brad Cox-trained son of Bernardini finished the 1 1/8-mile race a half-length in front in a final time of 1:47.93. Fractions for the race were :23.74, :46.97, 1:10.83, and 1:35.20.
Watch: Cox Proud of West Will Power's Top-Level Win in Stephen Foster
"He's a very good horse; he's accomplished a tremendous amount and he's gotten better as he's gotten older. (I'm) just very proud of what he stepped up and was able to do today," Cox said of the 6-year-old who finished third last out in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. "He's a grade 1 winner, that's pretty damn good."
Rattle N Roll finished a closing second and longshot Happy American was third. Morning-line favorite Smile Happy had to be backed down the track to the gate, seemed rattled at the start, and could do no better than fifth.
"These are hard races to be a part of, let alone win. They're very tough, demanding, races. There's not a lot of opportunity, it's not as if they run grade 1's every weekend," Cox said. "They're big, big deals in the horse business. ... This was a serious grade 1; it was as strong as this race was held at Churchill.
"No one ducked this race because it was at Ellis. This was a very, very good group of horses with the likes of Proxy and (Smile Happy and Rattle N Roll), just a deep group overall. He came out on the right end of it. I'm very proud of him and I think he's a grade 1 horse and he proved it today."
Top jockey Flavien Prat had yet to make the trek out to Ellis Park, known as the Pea Patch, before this week and Stephen Foster Day was just his second day riding there.
"To be honest, the track is great. It's a really good track; it's a mile and an eighth. I don't have much experience here, I only rode two days but it seems like you can be inside and outside," Prat said. "You need to be close to the pace but that's usually the way it is. ... It's one of the top races in America and I'm really pleased and grateful for the chance that Brad has given me."
Flavien Prat
West Will Power boosted his earnings to $1,745,390 and improved his record to 7-7-1 from 17 starts. The Wests bred him out of the talented multiple stakes-winning Wild Event mare Wild Promises , whose last reported foal is an unstarted Curlin filly named Cross Your Heart.
After the race, Cox reflected on his relatively quick journey to the top which began with two-time champion Monomoy Girl in 2018. He is a two-time Eclipse Award winner as outstanding trainer.
"Monomoy Girl is the first one, everyone knows that," he said with a chuckle. "She was very special, she's the one that really got this thing rolling for us at the grade 1 level. I think about her a lot, she still owns the most individual grade 1s (that we have). She means a tremendous amount to us, she's an all-time favorite. ... Today has a lot to do with her."
As for his up-and-coming star in West Will Power, Cox says he thinks the horse will have what it takes to stand up to the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic in November.
The winning connections after the first grade 1 race at Ellis Park
"Most of the Wests' horses that they breed and bring along, they have stamina. They breed to (have) two-turn dirt horses," Cox said.
"We're in the Breeders' Cup Classic; we'll work our way back from there. Ultimately it'll be up to Mr. West if we decide to go there and we'll make a plan."