With June around the corner, the graded stakes calendar heats back up as Churchill Downs hosts its Stephen Foster Preview on Saturday.The local prep for the June 28 running of the GI Stephen Foster Stakes, the GIII Blame Stakes is one of six higher-level races on the card and could be deemed as wide-open.Wathnan Racing's Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) has the class edge though. The 2025 winner of the G1 Dubai World Cup returned to Meydan back in late March, but was unable to duplicate the feat. Now the Brad Cox trainee is ready for his stateside return.“He's a classy older horse,” Cox said. “Obviously, he's well-traveled being a Dubai World Cup winner. Last year we went from the Dubai World Cup to the Foster, and this year we decided to run him in this race coming back from Dubai. He's had a solid string of works since returning to the U.S. and I think he's ready to run a top effort on Saturday.”Standing in his way are a number of other older horses with clout. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Hall of Fame (Gun Runner) turned in a competitive campaign last year, but ended up fourth in the Blame Stakes. He ran into T O Elvis (Volatile) in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes on the Derby undercard, which was his 5-year-old unveiling.Liberal Arts (Arrogate) kicked off his season by facing some stiff competition in the GII Oaklawn Handicap. The gray likes the local course and owns three wins in five starts.According to trainer Todd Pletcher, Vibe (Into Mischief) will opt for next week's GI Met Mile at Saratoga.In the GII Shawnee Stakes, GI Breeders' Cup F&M Sprint heroine Splendora (Audible) will scratch.The likely race favorite will probably come down to GSW Majestic Oops (Majestic Harbor) or 4-year-old Godolphin homebred Immersive (Nyquist). The latter, who was voted champion 2-year-old filly, was last seen finishing as the runner-up for Brad Cox in the GIII Distaff Stakes at Aqueduct Apr. 4.“She had a solid run to begin her season going seven-eighths,” Cox said. “She'll stretch back out around two turns Saturday, which is where she's proven herself against some top competition in the past.”As mentioned, Baffert's presence under the Twin Spires has significantly increased this year. The Hall of Famer has a pair entered in the GIII Aristides Stakes. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Cornucopian (Into Mischief) is a graded stakes winner, but he was well-beaten in the Churchill Downs Stakes. Madaket Road (Quality Road), who is Grade I placed, draws in after taking an allowance race May 8.The turf menu is not lacking on Saturday either. In the GIII Mint Julep Stakes look for John D. Gunther homebred Favorite Memory (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to take money. The filly hails from the barn of Cherie DeVaux and will be making her first start in the U.S. after running in England.Tam Tam | CoglianeseA good group of 3-year-old fillies will be battling it out in the GIII Regret Stakes. The winner of the GIII Florida Oaks, Dandona (Tiz the Law), and the winner of the GII Appalachian Stakes, Storm's Wake (Oscar Performance), are interesting. But Tam Tam (Medaglia d'Oro)–who missed by a head in the GII Edgewood Stakes on the Oaks undercard–should be the favorite come post time.“I don't want to say she fooled us as a 2-year-old, but we always thought she possessed a lot of ability,” said Tam Tam's trainer Phil Bauer said. “She sort of left us a little frustrated after those efforts, but she reminded me a little bit of Buchu (Justify), who was a graded stakes winner on grass. It was a relief when she was able to break her maiden on grass and came back to run a really nice race to win the Sanibel Island. On Oaks Day, we were confident even though it would be a tough task. She ran her eyeballs out.”“She definitely has natural gate speed,” he added. “I'd prefer her not be on the lead and have a target. Hopefully, Junior [Alvarado] can see what's going on to his inside going into the first turn. If she ends up on the lead like she did in the Edgewood, so be it.”Finally in the GIII Arlington Stakes, Lagynos (Kantharos) keeps rolling for trainer Steve Asmussen. The chestnut is after his fourth win in a row. The lightly raced Minaret Station (Instilled Regard) could play spoiler. OUT WEST & UP NORTHSeismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) makes her return to the races in the GII Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.In 2025, the Baffert trainee won this graded in gate to wire fashion by five lengths, then netted the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar in early August. She was unable to capitalize on the homefield advantage though and was eased in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Stakes Nov. 1.At 'The Great Race Place' on Sunday, the GIII Triple Bend Stakes includes GISW Stronghold (Ghostzapper) for trainer Phil D'Amato.Woodbine outside of Toronto has its own graded slate to offer on Saturday. The GII Eclipse Stakes is joined by the GIII Bell Mahone Stakes and GIII Jacques Cartier Stakes.The post Churchill’s Foster Preview Day Takes Center Stage On Graded Stakes Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.