Spendthrift Farm's Kingsbarns—who, during his 3-year-old season, won the 2023 Louisiana Derby (G2) before a 14th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1)—has taken the next step at age 4.
Returning to Churchill Downs June 29 for the first time since the 2023 Run for the Roses, the Todd Pletcher trainee excelled in the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), outrunning graded stakes winners Pyrenees, Skippylongstocking, and First Mission in recording his first top-level stakes victory.
The triumph earned him the opportunity for a further payday later this fall. He earned an automatic starting position and fees paid into the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar via the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.
He ran Saturday like he could prove a factor in the Classic and other major races for older males this season.
Fourth early under Luis Saez, he 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. Then 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 ground away to grab the place while outquickened by the winner, who raced 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.09.
Ned Toffey, general manager at Spendthrift Farm, noted the significance of Saturday's race at the grade 1 level.
"That's what you need," he said of making an eventual stallion commercially viable in Kentucky. "And so he did it the right way today. So huge for us."
Watch: Toffey Excited for Kingsbarns After Win in Stephen Foster
By defeating Pyrenees, the Todd Pletcher-trained Kingsbarns reversed a decision to that Cherie DeVaux-trained rival when Pyrenees edged Kingsbarns in the Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) last month at Pimlico Race Course.
"Ned, I let you have that one," DeVaux shouted to Toffey in jest as she walked by him in the winner's circle.
No Excuses for Those Close Behind Kingsbarns
Friendly banter aside, Kingsbarns was a deserving winner, as most of the top finishers 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 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) 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 Alysheba Stakes (G2) early last month at Churchill Downs and, like Kingsbarns, had been in pursuit of a stallion-making grade 1 victory.
"The way the stallion market has gotten, it's tough to stand one that doesn't have that grade 1 on their résumé," Toffey said. "You can do it, but boy, there's a lot of heavy lifting to get that horse an opportunity to be successful.
"So the grade 1 (and) the fact that he's by Uncle Mo; he's out of a Tapit mare. He's got so many of the pieces that you need to fill that résumé out to make him appeal to breeders."
Horseplayers overlooked him Saturday, letting him drift up from his 6-1 morning line to odds of almost 10-1. He paid $21.90 to win.
Only once in eight prior starts had he been a higher price, when he was 11-1 in the 18-horse Derby last year.
Though he had been upset by Pyrenees in the Pimlico Special last month, his other starts in 2024 had each resulted in victories: a 3 1/4-length triumph in the April 20 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) 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."
Saez and Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher both collected their first wins in the prestigious Foster.
Through the years, Foster winners Black Tie Affair (1991), Awesome Again (1998), Saint Liam (2005), Blame (2010), and Gun Runner (2017) added the Breeders' Cup Classic during the same season.
Two others, Curlin (2007-08) and Fort Larned (2012-13), captured the Foster the year after their Breeders' Cup Classic success.
"We're extremely proud of this horse's effort and for the entire team behind him," Pletcher said. "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."
Kingsbarns' Bloodlines, Sales History
Bred in Kentucky by Parks Investment Group, Kingsbarns is one of two multiple winners out of the grade 3-placed Tapit mare Lady Tapit, a half sister to grade 1 winner Gozzip Girl.
Spendthrift purchased Kingsbarns for $800,000 at Fasig-Tipton's The Gulfstream Sale in 2022, where he was consigned by Tom McCrocklin. McCrocklin, as agent for Champion Equine, had purchased Kingsbarns the previous year for $250,000 at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale in Upstate New York, where he was consigned by Paramount Sales.
Following Adare Manor's score in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) this spring, Kingsbarns becomes the second grade 1 winner of 2024 for Uncle Mo. One of the top stallions in North America, he stands for $150,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.
