Gold Street rolls to Sugar Bowl victory

NEW ORLEANS – It was miserable Saturday at Fair Grounds, chilly with rain falling from dawn until dusk. Gold Street loved it.

A month after winning a Churchill Downs maiden race by seven lengths in the slop, Gold Street outdueled Ryan’s Cat and drew away to a 3 1/2-length victory in the $75,000 Sugar Bowl Stakes.

Amongst came wide off the turn and tried to make a race of it, but mud lark Gold Street ($4) clung to Saturday’s golden rail, turned back any notion of a challenge before the eighth pole, and was all alone at the finish, stopping the timer in 1:11.20 for six furlongs on a sloppy, sealed surface. Amongst, who ran decently in defeat, was a clear second over Axiomo as Shashashakemeup, the clear second choice, finished a somewhat disappointing fourth after stumbling slightly a couple of strides after breaking from post 1.

Ricardo Santana rode the winner for owner Michael McCarty and trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the 999th stakes race of his career. Gold Street is by Street Boss out of Morakami, by Fusaichi Pegasus, and after a troubled career debut at Ellis Park, he’s run nothing but solid races. At Keeneland, he was second to the talented Complexifier, and at Churchill, before his own maiden win, Gold Street ran into capable stablemate Wayne O.

In the Sugar Bowl, he was away alertly under Santana and held his position down at the fence, Ryan’s Cat harrying while abreast, while running with his ears up, awaiting Santana’s cue. Gold Street quickened nicely when asked and his trainer described him as professional beyond his age. Gold Street doesn’t appear to be a true staying type, but his talent and disposition could allow him to stay a middle distance and Asmussen said Gold Street might get a chance to do so Jan. 24 in the one-mile, $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park.