Aqueduct: Street Life may try Wood Memorial next

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Street Life likely earned himself a spot in the $1 million Wood Memorial by overcoming a slow pace to run down pacesetting Copy My Swagger to win Saturday’s $75,000 Broad Brush Stakes by one-half length at Aqueduct.

The win was the second straight for Street Life, a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, after he finished eighth in his debut at Gulfstream on Jan. 5.

Under Junior Alvarado, Street Life raced in fourth position about 3 1/2 lengths off the pace of Copy My Swagger, who ran a half-mile uncontested in 48.76 seconds.

At the five-sixteenths pole, it appeared Street Life was dropping back as Alvarado pushed on his dark bay colt. He was 5 1/2 lengths back after six furlongs were run in 1:15.35. Alvarado then let the horse pick it up on his own, not resorting to the whip until he found some running room in upper stretch.

Still 3 1/2 lengths out of it at the eighth pole, Street Life was gaining on Copy My Swagger but was having difficulty switching leads. Once he did, he got that extra push to get past Copy My Swagger – running back one week after finishing fourth in the Capossela Stakes – to get the victory. Street Life covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.87 and returned $5.70 as the second choice.

Copy My Swagger finished second by 2 1/2 lengths over Hard Facts. Swag Daddy, the 6-5 favorite, finished fifth.

“I was pushing on him a little bit to keep him close and he’s a horse that really doesn’t like that,” Alvarado said. “He started to pick it up on his own. The thing with this horse is it’s really scary how this horse picks it up when you hit him. At the three-sixteenths pole I knew I was going to get him.”

Trainer Chad Brown, watching the race on television from Gulfstream Park, was pleased to get the win but knows there a few things to work on.

“I thought he overcame a slow pace, really showed something to still get up and win,” Brown said. “He obviously looked a little green in the lane. We still got a few things to work on. The talent’s there.”

Brown said he would look at the Wood Memorial on April 7 or the Arkansas Derby on April 14 for Street Life’s next start but said he would “lean to the Wood” so to avoid having to ship.

Street Life is owned by Hidden Brook Farm – which is managed by Sergio de Sousa – Bob McNair’s Magnolia Racing, and Dan Zucker.