The Brad Cox-trained Mandaloun returns to the races for the first time since February when he leaves the starting gate in the 2022 Stephen Foster Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Mandaloun, who is best known for being elevated to first place in the 2021 Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of Medina Spirit, was last seen finishing a well beaten ninth in the Saudi Cup on Feb. 26. For Saturday he is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the 2022 Stephen Foster odds. Olympiad, who is coming off a win in the Alysheba Stakes, is getting 5-2 ods in the seven-horse Stephen Foster Stakes 2022 field. Meanwhile Americanrevolution, who finished fourth in the Blame Stakes in his last race, is getting 7-2 odds.
Post time for the Stephen Foster Stakes 2022 is 5:47 p.m. ET. With an accomplished field set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what racing insider and Beyer Speed Figure maker Bob Weir has to say before making any 2022 Stephen Foster Stakes picks.
A Saratoga Springs-based racing insider and Beyer Speed Figure maker, Weir is a two-time qualifier for the prestigious National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. He has produced multiple five-figure days at the track over the years, including a $60,000 Pick 6 at Del Mar in 2014. Last year, he was on fire. He hit the exacta in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, Tampa Bay Derby and Peter Pan Stakes, the trifecta in the Risen Star Stakes, Blue Grass Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby and the superfecta in the Belmont Stakes.
This year, he has been red-hot in the Triple Crown prep races, hitting the superfecta in the Blue Grass Stakes, the trifecta in the Louisiana Derby and exactas in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby. He also has hit the 19-1 winner of the Man o' War Stakes, the trifecta in the Pegasus World Cup, the superfecta in the Met Mile and multiple Pick 4s, including May 14's at Belmont for $1,851. One week ago he hit the 6-1 winner of the Mother Goose Stakes and the Pick 4 at Belmont Park. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, he has handicapped the 2022 Stephen Foster Stakes lineup, made his picks and constructed his bets. You can only see them at SportsLine.
Top 2022 Stephen Foster Stakes predictions
One surprise: Weir, who studied the past performances and Beyer Speed Figures of every horse in the race, isn't high on Olympiad, even though he is on a four-race winning streak and is second in the odds at 5-2. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Olympiad got good at the end of last year before finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in December. Since then he has won four straight starts, including two straight Grade 2 races.
But Weir questions the quality of those last four victories; Olympiad stalked slow paces in each. "He's talented enough, earning four straight Beyer Speed Figures between 101 and 103, but he's yet to give a truly Grade 1 performance," Weir says. Weir prefers three horses over Olympiad.
How to 2022 Stephen Foster Stakes picks
Weir's top pick is a horse who was "not fully cranked" for his last race. Weir also is high on a long shot who is "dangerous at a price." Weir is including these horses in his 2022 Stephen Foster Stakes bets, and so should you. He's sharing which horses to back only at SportsLine.
So who wins the Stephen Foster Stakes 2022? What long shot is a must-back? And how has Weir constructed his wagers? Check out the latest Stephen Foster Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Weir's picks for the Stephen Foster Stakes.
2022 Stephen Foster Stakes odds, post positions
| Prg # | Horse | Odds | Projection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caddo River | 10-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | Americanrevolution | 7-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Olympiad | 5-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | Title Ready | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Proxy | 9-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Mandaloun | 2-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 7 | Last Samurai | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
