Improbable Scores in Street Sense Stakes for Baffert
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Improbable storms home in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs
Improbable proved the most likely of winners in the $100,000 Street Sense Stakes for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs Nov. 2, when he scored at odds of 4-5 for the familiar connections of trainer Bob Baffert and owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Bloodstock, who were all involved with Triple Crown winner Justify .
Trophy Chaser broke alertly in the one-mile Street Sense and led the field through an opening quarter mile in :22.77 and a half in :44.96. Manny Wah was in close pursuit from the outside, while Distant Shore came through on the inside to prompt the pace.
Jockey Drayden Van Dyke rated Improbable in fourth after a sluggish break from the gate, but gradually eased his charge in between horses and to the outside as he approached the turn. He accelerated to the five-sixteenths pole and grabbed the advantage from Trophy Chaser through six furlongs in 1:09.83. Improbable widened his advantage down the lane and won with ease by 7 1/2 lengths in 1:35.61. Trophy Chaser held second, while Distant Shore nosed out Manny Wah for third.
Improbable, a colt by City Zip out of the A.P. Indy mare Rare Event, was bred in Kentucky by St. George Farm and G. Watts Humphrey Jr. He won his debut at Santa Anita Park Sept. 29 by a neck.
Improbable returned $3.80, $2.80, and $2.20, while Trophy Chaser paid $3.60 and $2.80 and Distant Shore was good for $4.60 in the show slot.