Street Band Cruises to Indiana Oaks Score

In her first race since the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), Street Band rebounded in a big way and drew off to win the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) July 13 at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.

The evening called for more celebration as the 3-year-old Istan filly's regular rider, Sophie Doyle, became the first female jockey to win the race.

"I'm just delighted. It's amazing how many years they've been racing here, and finally it's the first time it's been done," Doyle said of her accomplishment. "It was fantastic, especially since I was riding here for so many years prior. To be able to come back to a local track and so many local fans here watching tonight, it was a nice homecoming. I like to keep myself humble. You always need to stay humble in this game."

The 1 1/16-mile feature also marked the second graded stakes win in three starts for trainer Larry Jones, Cindy Jones, Ray Francis, Medallion Racing, and MyRacehorse.com's Street Band. Jones conditioned her to a victory in the March 23 Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).

Doyle settled Street Band, off at odds of 3-1, in fifth of 12 Saturday night as 2-1 favorite Kim K took the lead from the rail. Kim K set opening fractions of :23.83 and :47.73 with Shacklette and Blessed Again in pursuit, and Street Band strode forward into second by the time three-quarters of a mile went in 1:11.62.

With Kim K unable to continue her momentum up front, Doyle and Street Band split rivals, cruised to a 1:36.52 mile, and hit the wire in 1:43.01. The pair finished 3 1/2 lengths in front on a fast track.

"She really exploded. When she put herself in that hole around the turn, she took me there. Same as she did at the Fair Grounds," Doyle said. "When I asked her, I knew she had plenty of horse left. I said, 'Oh yeah, we're going good here.' She just kicked in again and drew away from everyone. I thought, 'Going to take a good one to catch me.'"

Sundaysatthebeach came from seventh to grab second, and Honeybee Stakes (G3) winner Chocolate Kisses rallied from 10th for third. High Regard, Kim K, With Dignity, Hallawallah, Blessed Again, Shacklette, Drinking Dixie, Sally's Curlin, and Sweet Diane completed the order of finish.

With the Indiana Oaks victory, Street Band's record now stands at 4-0-2 in 10 starts with earnings of $434,425.

Jones is considering both the Aug. 17 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and the Sept. 21 Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing for his filly.

"That is why we gave her a lot of time after the Kentucky Oaks. I had in mind what I want to be a little busier fall," he said. "If we get to the Alabama and Cotillion, that will make this time off be what we wanted."

Street Band made her stakes debut in the Feb. 16 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and finished fourth. She and Doyle came back in the Fair Grounds Oaks and pulled a 10-1 upset, drawing clear by 3 3/4 lengths.

The pair teamed up again at Churchill Downs in the May 3 Kentucky Oaks but were in tight at the start and got shuffled back. Street Band was placed sixth after the stewards disqualified Jaywalk from that position to last.

Larry and Cindy Jones and Ray Francis bred Street Band in Kentucky. The chestnut filly is out of the Street Cry mare Street Minstrel, a mare Jones also trained. Street Minstrel foaled a Summer Front  filly April 27.

Although Jones could not make it to Indiana Grand after running a horse in the last race at Ellis Park, where Street Band broke her maiden by 7 1/4 lengths at 2, he was content with the result from both Street Band and Doyle.

"It was really good, it played out nice. I told Sophie earlier, 'Look, there's a couple of horses who like to go to the front, but this filly might want to go,'" he said. "I said, 'Don't rassle her. If you can get her tucked in, great, but do not rassle her.'

"It all played out well. Sophie got her in a good spot. I'm tickled to death for her, so happy for her. That was better for me than anything else."