Winchell Thoroughbreds' multiple Group/Grade I winner Magnitude (Not This Time) has emerged from his sterling victory in the GI Stephen Foster in good form, and will ship to Saratoga in the coming days, it was announced via release.
“I cannot tell you how proud I am of [assistant trainer] Scott [Blasi] and the entire team,” Asmussen said. “They traveled to Dubai, made the trip back into training super smooth here at Churchill and what a great race that was put on.”
Asmussen added that Magnitude would follow the same campaign path as his former sensation Gun Runner during his 2017 Horse of the Year season–he won the GI Whitney Stakes that year as well. The older division leader earned career-best figures for the Foster win, and an automatic berth in the Gi Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland.
“For him to beat Forever Young in the Dubai World Cup–that's what I love about racing–he's got to do it again,” Asmussen said. “Your past performances aren't going to beat anybody. He beats Forever Young, a horse with 15 starts and $31-million in earnings in races around the world.”
“Then he comes back and beats Sovereignty, who beat him by 15 lengths in the Travers, and Baeza, who beat him in the Pennsylvania Derby. We're a better horse now than we've ever been. We have a lot of year left, but what a great benchmark this is.”
Foster Handle Hits Record
Saturday's total handle for the 12-race Stephen Foster day program was $22.3-million, a record for the event and an unprecedented track total outside of the Kentucky Oaks or Derby, and a Breeders' Cup.
Wagering on the card rose by 13% compared to the 2025 mark of $20.7-million. The track's previous records outside of the Derby, Oaks or Breeders' Cup was this year's Thurby, which handled $22.5-million, and closing day of last year's Spring Meet, which handled $21.3-million with a $1.4-million jackpot carryover force-out.
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