Stakes-Laden Saturday at Churchill Downs Promises Star Power—and Hidden Betting Gold for Savvy Handicappers
June 26, 2025 – Louisville, KY
This Saturday, Churchill Downs plays host to one of the most consequential race days of the summer, headlined by the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes, a $1 million “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Classic prep. But beyond the marquee names and national TV coverage lies a card packed with lucrative undercard stakes—and a surprising number of live longshots that are flying under the radar.
According to analysts at Today’s Racing Digest, Saturday’s 12-race card is a potential gold mine for bettors who know where to look.
Stephen Foster Stakes: A Heavyweight Clash with Undercard Depth
The Grade 1 Stephen Foster has drawn a field worthy of its purse, featuring top older dirt horses including Sierra Leone, Mystik Dan, First Mission, and Skippylongstocking. Sierra Leone, the likely favorite, returns off a layoff following his Breeders’ Cup Classic win, while Mystik Dan enters in peak form after his recent Blame Stakes victory.
But Today’s Racing Digest suggests bettors shouldn’t overlook First Mission, who boasts the highest Final Time Rating in the field and comes from a barn that wins 32.5% in similar spots. Even more intriguing? A longshot like Ashcroft, dismissed at 30-1 on the morning line, has figures suggesting he's not as far behind as the odds imply. Get your Digest Now!
Fleur de Lis Stakes Set to Shake Up Churchill Downs with High Stakes and Tactical Fireworks
This Saturday, Churchill Downs hosts the prestigious Grade II Fleur de Lis Stakes, a pivotal showdown for older fillies and mares eyeing a Breeders’ Cup berth. The 9-furlong test isn’t just tradition—it’s a crucible of speed and stamina, with past winners like Midnight Bisou and Shedaresthedevil cementing the race’s elite status. For racing fans, it’s a chance to see potential champions clash under high pressure. For bettors, it’s one of the summer’s sharpest betting opportunities, thanks to a small field packed with frontrunners and class-droppers ready to throw down. With a $500,000 purse on the line and the Distaff path wide open, every move from the gate will matter.
According to Today’s Racing Digest, this year’s edition is primed for a brutal pace scenario—frontrunners like Royal Spa, Gin Gin, and Taxed could cook each other early in a duel that only the toughest can survive. That plays straight into the hands of Thorpedo Anna, the clear standout with a monster 156 Final Time Rating and proven form against stronger RCL 195 company. She's dropping in class and brings a 2-for-4 Churchill Dirt Routes record to the party. Meanwhile, Taxed looms as a value threat, exiting a gritty RCL 195 second with staying power to spare. With closers historically ineffective at this trip, the race demands early position and serious stamina—precisely the kind of tactical detail Today’s Racing Digest breaks down. For serious players, this isn’t a race to guess on—it’s one to game-plan with the data in hand. Get your Digest Now!
Turf Spotlight: Wise Dan Stakes
The Wise Dan Stakes, a prestigious Grade II turf race for older horses, headlines Saturday’s card at Churchill Downs. Covering 1⅙ miles on lush grass with a hefty $500,000 purse, it attracts a competitive field of nine, including recent Grade III Arlington winner Mercante and consistent performer Brilliant Berti en.wikipedia.org+11si.com+11americasbestracing.net+11. Named after the legendary two-time Horse of the Year, the race carries serious weight for both racing purists and bettors alike . The upside? A small, deep field means every position counts, fueling high-stakes wagering action like exactas and trifectas, especially with varied running styles ready to clash.
Today’s Racing Digest breaks down why this one’s a tactical minefield. Touted frontrunner Event Detail is essentially overmatched on class, leaving a mostly late-running cast to battle it out sports.yahoo.com+2si.com+2paulickreport.com+2. Mi Hermano Ramon, dropping in from tougher 210 RCL company, boasts a standout 159 Final Time Rating—best in the field—and becomes the top choice. Mercante (156 FTR) and Brilliant Berti (147–140 FTR) round out the main threats, both equipped to strike late if the pace war blows up early. Henro is the longshot bomb with trainer stakes off layoffs and a 150 FTR, while closers like Taking Candy and Lagynos wield real lane speed but lack consistency. Digest’s strategy? Exacta box Mi Hermano Ramon, Mercante, Brilliant Berti; toss in Henro for superfecta upside. It’s the kind of precise, pace-driven intel that shifts bets from random to strategic—and that’s why serious bettors need this Digest. Get your Digest Now!
Why Bettors Need the Digest This Saturday
While the headline horses draw the attention, the real opportunities are buried deeper. Today’s Racing Digest breaks down each race not just by speed figures, but also by class movement, trainer intent, and trip dynamics—metrics that casual bettors miss.
For example:
- Bourbon Society in Race 2: Best figure in the field, yet ignored due to a surface switch. Digest sees a live upset.
- Sang in Race 6: Forgettable recent form, but hidden class drop and sharp recent works scream rebound potential.
- Backtrack in Race 5: Perfect route-to-sprint angle backed by top trainer stats.
The Digest also includes stretch-time metrics—essential in turf and route races—and designates closers and early speed types based on actual data, not guesswork. Get your Digest Now!
Final Takeaway
Saturday at Churchill Downs isn’t just a showcase—it’s a betting gauntlet. Favorites like Booth, Margarita Girl, and Thorpedo Anna will be tough to beat, but the value comes in surrounding them with live chaos horses the public won’t see coming.
Whether you're chasing a Pick 5, looking to key a longshot in the trifecta, or just want to avoid overbet chalk, Today’s Racing Digest is the only guide unlocking the full race-day picture. Get your Digest Now!
Because on a card this deep, winners aren't always where the toteboard says they are.