The talent set to compete in the $2 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) is no secret. Four of the five stalls will be filled with grade 1 winners, and no ordinary grade 1 winners at that.
The 6-5 morning line favorite is Sovereignty, the reigning Horse of the Year and winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). Then at 3-1 comes White Abarrio, a four-time grade 1 winner and victor of the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), followed at 7-2 by Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude and at 6-1 by 2025 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner and dual classic-placed Baeza.
Then, alone on the odds-board by himself at 20-1, comes the field's final runner: Willy D's.
It is no surprise that the Paradise Farms' 5-year-old Lookin At Lucky gelding is the clear longshot in the field, but weirder things have happened in horse racing than a horse as consistent as Willy D's has been springing a grade 1 upset. And he will indeed have that opportunity.
Willy D's had been an uncertainty to run in the Foster as he had been cross-entered for the $250,000 Texas Turf Classic Stakes at Lone Star Park the same day, a 1 1/8-mile grass event where he was the 8-5 favorite. However, trainer Mike Maker confirmed with BloodHorse the morning of June 25 that he will indeed run at Churchill Downs.
That decision became much easier to make when it was announced June 24 that Foster entrants Forged Steel and Navajo Warrior would be scratched. That reduced the field to five, guaranteeing Willy D's 5% of the purse. Thanks to Churchill Downs' decision in May to double the purse from $1 million to $2 million, 5% of the purse is worth $100,000.
In order to make the Texas Turf Classic a more profitable venture, Willy D's would need to win to get 60% of the purse worth $150,000. The 20% reward the runner-up receives would only be worth $50,000.
Although finishing fifth in the Foster would be worth $50,000 less than winning the Texas Turf Classic, the Foster also provides the benefit of not having to ship as Willy D's is based in Louisville, Ky. Being able to run out of his own stall for a guaranteed $100,000 ultimately led to Maker's decision.
"We'll just take the same approach as any other race," Maker said of the Foster's difficulty. "It's horse racing and anything can happen. … It's obviously a huge class jump, but if somebody stubs their toe, maybe we can pick up a piece."
If there was a time to try against this company, now would be it. The gelding has been hot this spring, winning back-to-back stakes in the March 21 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park and the May 2 Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The latter was taken in gate-to-wire fashion while he sat just off the pace in the former. Maker said he expects to be forwardly placed Saturday while breaking from the rail under Luis Saez, and reports he's been training great in preparation.
The current connections claimed Willy D's for $50,000 at Oaklawn Park in March 2025, and he has proven a success. Since joining Maker, he sports a record of 4-3-1 from 10 starts worth $697,537 in earnings. He is also a three-time stakes winner, including his grade 3 Kentucky Cup Classic win during that time and was runner-up in the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2) last August.
"He'll give it his all," Maker said.
