2026 Stephen Foster Stakes picks, odds: Horse racing writer has best bets for Saturday's race featuring Sovereignty

Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty will try to get back in the winner's circle when he leaves the starting gate in a loaded Stephen Foster Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. In his last start, Sovereignty returned from an eight-month layoff and finished second in the Oaklawn Handicap. On Saturday he returns to the site of his greatest triumph, the Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the 2026 Stephen Foster Stakes odds. White Abarrio (3-1), Magnitude (7-2), Baeza (6-1) and Willy D's (20-1) round out the five Stephen Foster Stakes horses. (Forged Steel and Navajo Warrior are expected to scratch.) Post time for the $2 million race is 6:14 p.m. ET. 

With several talented runners set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you NEED to see what SportsLine horse racing expert Gene Menez has to say before making any 2026 Stephen Foster Stakes picks or horse racing predictions considering his track record.

A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.

Menez excels on horse racing's biggest days. In 2024 he crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday for a $5,303 windfall. Last year he nailed the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby for a $529.60 score and the winner and trifecta in the Blue Grass Stakes for a $761.96 jackpot. He hit the late Pick 4 on Kentucky Oaks day for $915.48. In the Kentucky Derby, he hammered the exacta and trifecta for a $1,045 payout. And earlier this year he struck big on Fountain of Youth day, hitting the late Pick 5 for $4,648.

Now, Menez has handicapped the 2026 Stephen Foster Stakes field and revealed his picks. One surprise: Menez is not using Sovereignty at all, even though he is the 6-5 favorite. 

Instead, Menez's top pick is a horse who has a "big chance." Menez is including this horse in his 2026 Stephen Foster Stakes bets, and so should you!

So which horse wins the 2026 Stephen Foster Stakes? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get the top 2026 Stephen Foster Stakes picks and bets, all from the expert who finished 115th out of 643 entries in last year's Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge!

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