Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's MAGNITUDE (c, 4, Not This Time–Rockadelic, by Bernardini) employed the same front-running tactics that saw him claim the scalp of reigning GI Breeders' Cup Classic and two-time defending G1 Saudi Cup hero Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai World Cup back on March 28 to take out Saturday's $2-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes at a soggy Churchill Downs.There was plenty going on at the gates, both before the start and after the gates flew. Drawn the outside in the compact field of five, Magnitude pushed his way through the stall, but did not elude the grasp of handlers and was reloaded without incident. While the Asmussen runner left there running, the same could not be said for Baeza (McKinzie), whose slow start proved costly in the GII Alysheba Stakes on seasonal debut last month, and it was even worse this time, as he dwelt badly, costing him a good five lengths.Magnitude made a relatively easy lead for Jose Ortiz and when White Abarrio (Race Day) pressed on, it relegated odds-on Sovereignty (Into Mischief) into a three-wide third into the first turn.Positions were largely unchanged up front as the field passed midway, but farther back, Junior Alvarado was already niggling at the Horse of the Year to bridge what had become a significant deficit. The complexion began to change three-eighths of a mile out, as White Abarrio tried to ratchet up the pressure on Magnitude, while Sovereignty was doing his best work to loom a threat three deep at the quarter pole. And even Baeza was beginning to warm up to the task and was produced widest of all turning towards the Twin Spires.White Abarrio was first to call it a day and Baeza continued to make steady progress down the center, but even as Magnitude hopped on to his incorrect lead a sixteenth from home–as he is wont to do–he had the race in safe keeping. Baeza was a cracking second from Sovereignty, who finished well back in third. The final time was 1:48.03.Sales history: $450,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 14-8-2-1. O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Ron Stolich (KY); T-Steve Asmussen MAGNITUDE ($7.16) is king of the classic division!!The son of Not This Time (@TMStallions) is conditioned by Steve Asmussen. @jose93_ortiz gets his 4th win today in the $2,000,000 Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at @ChurchillDowns. pic.twitter.com/YwWKulSxY1— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 27, 2026The post Magnitude Takes Clash Of the Titans In Stephen Foster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.