Rallying third for First Mission in G1 Stephen Foster Stakes

First Mission produced a brave display as he finished third behind established top-level stars Mindframe and Sierra Leone in the G1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, USA, on Saturday, 28 June.

The Brad Cox-trained five-year-old had faded to fourth after making the running in the same race 12 months ago, and Luis Saez sent the Street Sense entire on again into an early three-quarter length lead over Mindframe.

First Mission extended his advantage to two lengths with five furlongs to race before recent G1 Churchill Downs Stakes scorer Mindframe and last season’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic victor Sierra Leone closed on the Godolphin homebred leaving the back.

Mindframe moved up around First Mission two furlongs out before taking up a narrow lead at the top of the straight, with the 2024 G1 Kentucky Derby scorer Mystik Dan sneaking up the inside to launch his challenge at the same time.

First Mission rallied as Mindframe went clear entering the final furlong, battling a staying-on Sierra Leone and Mystik Dan for the places. Sierra Leone asserted for second inside the final half-furlong, with First Mission getting the better of Mystik Dan for third near the line to go down by just over two lengths in total.