Magnitude wires rivals in G1 Stephen Foster

June 29, 2026

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In what was billed as the “Summer Showdown” featuring North America’s top older horses, Kentucky-bred Magnitude led every step of the way to win the $2 million Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1), Magnitude defeated Baeza by 1 ¼ lengths in the 45^th running of the Stephen Foster. Jose Ortiz rode Magnitude to victory for Hall of Fame trainer Steven Asmussen and owner-breeder Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC. Reigning Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty was another four lengths back in third.

Magnitude became the ninth gate-to-wire Stephen Foster winner and first since Asmussen and Winchell’s Dubai World Cup runner-up Gun Runner prevailed in 2017. Asmussen also won the race in 2008 with Curlin, another Dubai World Cup winner.

“What an amazing horse,” Asmussen said. “What a perfect story for all of us. A horse who came through the program, reaching the heights that he has with him beating Forever Young (JPN) last time and the field that he beat today. What a special day, what a special moment.”

“He’s an incredible horse,” said Ortiz. “I figured we’d make the lead if he broke well because he has such a high cruising speed. Sometimes he switches leads, but he just keeps fighting. It was another incredible effort from him today.”

Magnitude is Breeders’ Cup Bound

The lofty $1,238,000 first prize lifted the bay Kentucky-bred colt’s earnings to $9,782,365. That earnings total ranks 17^th all-time, from a record of 8-2-1 in 14 starts.

The victory in the Stephen Foster, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In Classic Division” race, earned Magnitude a spot in the starting gate for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The Classic is scheduled for Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Magnitude is a 4-year-old son of Not This Time out of the Bernardini mare Rockadelic.

“People have tried to compare him to some of the great horses we’ve had over the years, and he just keeps living up to the hype,” Winchell said. “I was a little nervous in the stretch, but Jose kept finding more, and so did Magnitude.”