Side Street Dave First Winner for Govenor Charlie

Tom London, Terry Lovingier, and Eugene Zondlo's Side Street Dave broke through the maiden ranks Aug. 25 at Del Mar, taking a $33,755 maiden claiming race and marking the first winner for freshman sire Govenor Charlie.

Trained by Gary Sherlock, Side Street Dave raced near the back of the field as You'reright Again led through the first quarter-mile in :23.03 but moved into fourth as the half-mile went in :47.41. Jockey Geovanni Franco kept Side Street Dave to the outside and moved him into second coming off the turn and into the stretch. 

You'reright Again was tiring as Side Street Dave put in a grinding stretch drive to finish 1 1/4 lengths in front. The final time for the 5 1/2 furlongs over a fast track was 1:07.73.

Side Street Dave finished second in his May 17 debut at Santa Anita Park but finished off the board in his next two starts in maiden special weight races. 

Bred in California by Lovingier, the 2-year-old colt is the first foal to race out of the Street Cry mare Jolly Days.

Trained by Bob Baffert for Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman, Govenor Charlie showed promise as a 3-year-old, breaking his maiden in his second start and following that up with a five-length score in the Sunland Derby (G3) in what was a track record of 1:47.54 for 1 1/8 miles at the time.

A bruised foot kept the son of Midnight Lute from starting in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). He finished off the board in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and was then given time off before his next season. At 4, he placed second in the Strub Stakes (G2) and was retired after his 5-year-old season with $506,650 in earnings.

Bred in Kentucky by Pegram, Govenor Charlie is a 9-year-old son of the unraced Storm Cat mare Silverbulletway, a daughter of Hall of Fame runner Silverbulletday. He stands at Lovacres Ranch in California for $3,000.