Forged Steel and Navajo Warrior are set to scratch from Saturday’s $2million Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, cutting the race to five and sharpening Sovereignty’s clash with White Abarrio, Baeza and Magnitude.
The defections were confirmed after C2 Racing’s Mark Cornett said both Saffie Joseph Jr-trained runners would come out of the June 27 contest, with Thoroughbred Daily News reporting that BloodHorse first had the update.
Forged Steel had earned his place in the conversation with a dominant Hollywood Gold Cup win, while Navajo Warrior arrived off a Pimlico Special success. Their absence removes two Joseph runners from what had been framed as one of the deepest American dirt races of the summer.
What The Scratches Change
The Foster now centres on a tighter, higher-pressure five-runner shape. Godolphin’s Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, remains the headline act as last year’s Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers winner returns to Churchill Downs.
White Abarrio is still the immediate form threat after beating Sovereignty in the Oaklawn Handicap, while Dubai World Cup winner Magnitude gives Steve Asmussen a live contender. Mott also has Baeza, the Pennsylvania Derby winner and 2025 Kentucky Derby third.
With the Stephen Foster also carrying a Breeders’ Cup Classic berth, the scratches do not reduce the stakes. They simply make every tactical move more exposed.
