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Street Sense edges out Any Given Saturday at the finish line
(Stephanie Van Minos and Tom Cooley/Horsephotos.com) |
James Tafel's homebred champion STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]) surged along
the rail turning for home and got the best of a stretch-long duel with 3-5
choice Any Given Saturday (Distorted Humor) to win a thrilling rendition of
the $300,000
Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on Saturday. Making his first start since a
smashing 10-length win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), the Carl Nafzger
trainee finished 1 1/16 miles in a track record 1:43 under regular
rider Calvin Borel. The three-year-old colt was sent off as the 6-5 second
choice and paid $4.40, $2.40 and $2.10.
All I Can Get (Slew City Slew) went directly to the front and set splits of
:23 2/5, :47 2/5 and 1:12 for the opening six furlongs on the fast track.
Approaching the final turn, Any Given Saturday moved smartly into contention in the three-path, while
Street Sense was gearing up on the inside. Through the stretch, little separated
the duo, but the fresher horse was a nose better in the end. Any Given Saturday
was 6 1/4 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer in second, worth $2.20 and $2.10
while completing the paltry $6.80 exacta. Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris) broke
awkwardly from his outside post but closed well from last to earn third, paying
$2.10 and finishing off the $28.80 trifecta at 20-1. Most Distinguished (Dixie
Union) was another two lengths back, capping the $81.20 superfecta (2-4-7-5) at 20-1, and
was followed by All I Can Get, Optimistic Steve (Stephen Got Even) and Lisselan
Muse (Devil His Due).
Street Sense earned his second career stakes win in upping his career mark to
6-3-1-2, $1,358,200. In addition to his Breeders' Cup score by a record margin, the
dark bay was third in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Arlington-Washington
Breeders' Cup Futurity (G3).
The winner was bred in the Bluegrass State and is the first foal out of the
winning Bedazzle (Dixieland Band). Street Sense has a two-year-old half-sister
named Elusive Sparkle (Elusive Quality) and an unnamed yearling half-sister by
Distorted Humor. This is the family of multiple Grade 3 victor, 1995 Breeders'
Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up and successful sire Mr. Greeley.
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