South Bend Wins Street Sense to Stay Undefeated

Sagamore Farm's 2-year-old South Bend remained undefeated in three starts after splitting horses to emerge first in the $123,664 Street Sense Stakes, part of the Oct. 27 opening day "Stars of Tomorrow I" card at Churchill Downs.

After a winning stakes debut for the Algorithms  colt, trainer Stanley Hough set his sights on the Nov. 30 "Stars of Tomorrow II" card and the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2).

"It's always nice to have a horse show this much talent early in his career," Hough said. "He hasn't shown me anything yet that he can't stretch out around two turns, so the Kentucky Jockey Club at the end of the meet would make sense."

Jockey Julien Leparoux gave South Bend a patient ride in the one-mile Street Sense. The bay colt was third at the first point of call as Silver Prospector opened with a quarter-mile in :22.87, then dropped back to fifth with Silver Prospector running a half-mile in :46.24. Leparoux waited to move from the inside heading into the lane and continued to bide his time as the field entered the upper stretch. 

South Bend, the 7-5 favorite, was able to split horses while three wide near the sixteenth pole and charged to a one-length victory. He finished in 1:35.56 on a fast track, only one-hundredth of a second off McCraken 's stakes-record time of 1:35.55 in 2016.

Video: Street Sense S. (BT)

"I think he's still figuring everything out at this stage, and to be this talented is very exciting," Leparoux said. "When he got an open spot late in the stretch, he finally realized he needed to start running fast again to get through, and he got up to win."

Fighting Seabee rallied for second and finished a half-length in front of Silver Prospector, who held for third, three-quarters of a length over Shotski. The winner exited the race with earnings of $171,504.

South Bend was bred in Kentucky by Highclere out of the Old Trieste mare Sandra's Rose, who is also the dam of stakes winner He's the Reason. Sandra's Rose last produced a yearling Into Mischief  colt and was reported bred to Distorted Humor  in 2019.

Sagamore Farm purchased South Bend for $70,000 this year from Pick View's consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The colt went unsold his first time through the ring last year when he hammered for $47,000 at The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale in Lexington, with consignor Stuart Morris.

Finite Much the Best in Rags to Riches

The $122,097 Rags to Riches Stakes was one race earlier at Churchill Downs, and Finite was a dazzling six-length winner of the one-mile test for juvenile fillies off a maiden score last out. Sunday's effort left Steve Asmussen confident for another step up in class, and the trainer is eyeing a Nov. 30 return.

"She definitely passed the test today stretching out in distance," Asmussen said. "She's a very quality filly and had a nice win at Kentucky Downs coming into this race. The Golden Rod (G2) is definitely the right race for her after this type of performance, so it was encouraging to see her stretch out."

Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard the Munnings  filly campaigned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Thomas Reiman, William Dickson, and Deborah Easter. The jockey settled 5-2 Finite off the pace of even-money favorite Specially, who set swift fractions of :22.87 and :45.78 through the first half-mile. Specially was holding on by a head as three-quarters went in 1:10.37, but Finite was looming on her outside and made easy work of the field. 

The winner was ridden out and crossed the wire in 1:35.53 on a fast track.

Video: Rags to Riches S. (BT)

"She relaxed so comfortable for me today after breaking so well," Santana said. "I got her in the perfect spot, and she responded every step of the way to the finish. She's a very nice filly, and I think she can go longer."

Lady Glamour was second at 20-1 and finished six lengths ahead of Gone Glimmering. It was another half-length back to Lucky Jingle in fourth. Specially faded to last.

Finite was bred in Kentucky by Winchell Thoroughbreds, which retained part ownership after Debbie Easter, agent, purchased her for $200,000 this year from consignor Randy Miles at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The filly is out of the Tapit  mare Remit, a multiple stakes winner for Winchell. Remit is also the dam of multiple stakes winner Reride, by Candy Ride ; a yearling full sister to Reride; and a Gun Runner  colt born in March. The mare revisited Gun Runner this year.

From four starts and a pair of firsts and seconds, Finite has earned $187,929.