The grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes was all about the royalty on June 29 as we saw a perceived talent solidify his place in the top tier of older classic distance horses.

  The Foster has long been a proving ground as a Breeders’ Cup dreams and local bragging rights are at stake. Kingsbarns came into this mile and an eighth test with something to prove. His front-running style had produced some brilliant victories in his brief eight race career. But, was he more than a one trick pony and could he hold off an accomplished field of seven others?

  The gates opened and to the surprise of most, Kingsbarns was NOT on the lead but instead stalking a very moderate pace. As odds on favorite First Mission guided the talent (24.13 opening quarter, 48.38 half mile) into the far turn, there was Kingsbarns running in the clear. At the quarter pole jockey Luis Saez found the accelerator and the Todd Pletcher-trained son of Uncle Mo ran right past the leaders. Assuming command at the top of the stretch, it was a royal run to grade 1 glory down the lane. Kingsbarns finished a good 2 ½ lengths ahead of a closing Pyrenees.

  Somewhat dismissed by the speculators, Kingsbarns went off at 9-1 and returned a tidy $21.90 on a $2 win bet. The Foster triumph guaranteed this Spendthrift-owned four-year old a spot in the starting gates for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. It was his third win in four starts this year and marked the sixth victory with two seconds in nine career outings. Kingsbarns has now banked over $1.5 million in on-track earnings.