The action doesn’t stop now that the Triple Crown is over, and the stage is set for an eventful weekend. Dreaming of Anna returns and figures to be hard to beat in the Mint Julip. Pyro, Visionaire, and Recapturetheglory are in a softer spot than they were six weeks ago, and are seeking a return to top form. Two Step Salsa will try his luck around two turns. Hystericalady is back. Ginger Punch, Champion older filly last year will run in the Phipps Handicap, and of course reigning king Curlin will show up in the Foster.

Now that there is no Triple Crown winner, the year is actually more interesting. Horse of the Year is back on the table, and they will all be chasing Curlin to earn that trophy. It is very hard for any horse to unseat a Crown winner for the top honors. In 1978 Seattle Slew soundly defeated Affirmed twice, and still lost year end honors to him. Voters feel very strongly that Triple Crown winners deserve Horse of the Year.

Turf star Einstein will tussle with Curlin on dirt, as will Grasshopper and Brass Hat. It should be a good race for the champ, and his return to US soil is long overdue.

Whether the favorites will prevail today or turn in a Big Brown performance is anyone’s guess, but for Big Brown to join the trophy hunt, he must come back to the track and make us forget his Belmont performance- or lack there of. He must also defeat Curlin, or Curlin has to fail miserably in his remaining starts this year, and Big Brown has to excel. For now my money is on Curlin retaining his form and having a decisive victory in the Stephen Foster.

The road to the Breeders Cup has begun, but the fact that it is on synthetic makes it somewhat less interesting. The last thing anyone wants is to see some synthetic specialist defeat the likes of Curlin. Curlin has proven that he can handle a variety of tracks, but a horse that runs and trains primarily on synthetics would have to hold an advantage over him. There is a reason Lava Man (while being one of the greatest claims in history) only wins out there. No category honors should be decided out there.

Speaking of voting categories, Ocean Colors, a filly out of Winning Colors won her first start in convincing fashion, and brought back memories of her mama in doing it. She looks like her, and is just as fast and lovely. Expect big things from her on the two year old filly scene.