When turf specialist Kitodan was honored by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association as the 2020 Claiming Horse of the Year, one of the owners that trainer Eric Foster works with remarked that they should appreciate the moment as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Well," Foster responded, "you don’t know that.”

Sure enough, Everland has come along early this season to turn heads. Claimed for $30,000 last December 30 at Turfway Park on behalf of Foster Family Racing, Bill Wargel, R.K. Ekrich Racing and Maxis Stable, she will battle fillies with far higher price tags and more regal bloodlines in Friday’s $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

Everland won the Bourbonette Oaks. (Eclipse Sportswire)

The gray daughter of the late Arrogate qualified when she rallied to upset the March 23 Bourbonette Oaks at 11.05-1 on Turfway’s all-weather surface. Qualifying and belonging are two different things. The connections are confident this 30-1 longshot belongs.

“I always said I wouldn’t run just to run in the Oaks or the Derby,” noted Foster, 46. “I do definitely think she has a decent shot. I think most of the field thinks they can win.”

Everland must make a huge step up in class while proving she can handle dirt. She made an inauspicious debut on turf last Sept. 10 at always-tough Kentucky Downs. She finished sixth, beaten 12 lengths. Her other six starts have been on synthetic surfaces. She made her second start at Woodbine, where she took third against maiden company. The rest of the time she has competed at Turfway Park.

Her lone work at Churchill Downs was hardly encouraging. She traveled four furlongs in 51.80 seconds last Sunday, last of 60 workers at the distance.

Even Foster does not know the answer to the dirt question. “We’re going to find out. She qualified. Going from artificial to dirt was the biggest concern,” the trainer acknowledged. “I know she has grit.”

Eric Foster. (Anne Eberhardt)

Foster studied replays of the filly’s first three races before he took the leap and claimed her in her fourth start, the first instance in which she was available for a tag. Each time, he was encouraged by the effort he saw. He was very much drawn to her pedigree, with Arrogate as her sire out of the Tapit mare Ever Changing.

“We don’t have a lot of opportunities to get an Arrogate,” he said. “I also like Tapit mares.”

Racing depends heavily on the claiming ranks. Robust purses in Kentucky are encouraging owners and trainers to take chances on claiming horses when they might have been hesitant before.

“With the purses in Kentucky, if you claim one for $30,000 and you win for $20,000, you’re going to get out,” Foster said. “Claiming is a lot easier now. It gives owners an opportunity to get their investment back.”

The connections winced and then smiled the night they claimed Everland. She had to be checked hard on the final turn of the one-mile race. For some horses, that loss of momentum is ruinous. Everland recovered and went on to win by a length and three-quarters.

The mental aspect for horses at all levels cannot be overstated. If they get beaten often enough, they may never run well again. A victory can work wonders.

Everland. (BloodHorse)

What was the turning point for Everland?

“It could have been the very night we claimed her that she gained her confidence,” Foster said. “She ran a really gutsy race that night.”

Foster also credited her groom, Marybel Dominguez. He did not point to the strength of his 40-horse operation, but he is doing plenty right. He emerged as the leading trainer at Turfway’s recently concluded meet.

“I’m happy to be competitive,” said the self-effacing Foster. “My main goal is for my horses to stay healthy and be running to the wire.”

Abel Cedillo retains the mount on the responsive Everland. Foster, who has never cracked the top three in a Grade 1 race, is cautiously optimistic.

“Even the better horses, a lot of horses need a special trip or need the pace to be right and that doesn’t concern me with her. I know she is going to run her race,” he said. “We’re all going to find out Friday if that translates to dirt.”

Consider it a $1.5 million question.