South Bend, Finite win opening-day stakes at Churchill

South Bend, the 7-5 favorite in a field of 10, kept his record perfect in three career starts when rallying to win the $123,664 Street Sense as Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., opened its 26-day fall meet Sunday.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux for Sagamore Farm and trainer Stan Hough, South Bend split rivals leaving the eighth pole to prevail by a length over Fighting Seabee. Silver Prospector, who led most of the one-turn mile, finished another half-length back in third.

South Bend, a bay colt by Algorithms, returned $4.80 after finishing in 1:35.56. He was coming off wins in a September maiden race at Churchill and a Keeneland allowance earlier this month, both by narrow margins and at slightly shorter distances.

“I think he’s actually going to enjoy going two turns instead of one,” said Leparoux. “He’s that kind of horse.”

The Street Sense and its filly counterpart, the Rags to Riches, anchored a Stars of Tomorrow card exclusively for 2-year-olds. A second Stars of Tomorrow program is set for Nov. 29, when the next likely race for South Bend, the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club, will be held, along with the Grade 2 Golden Rod for fillies, both at 1 1/16 miles.

While the main track was fast throughout the 11-race Sunday card after drying out overnight, two scheduled turf races were transferred to the dirt because of a soaking Saturday rain.

Finite ($7.80) in Rags to Riches

One race earlier, Finite drew off down the stretch after racing favored Specially into defeat, romping home by six lengths over Lady Glamour in the $122,097 Rags to Riches when finishing the mile in 1:35.53. She paid $7.80 as second choice in a field of seven fillies.

Owned in partnership by her breeder, the Winchell Thoroughbreds of Ron Winchell, Finite was coming off a maiden victory at Kentucky Downs in her third career start. Steve Asmussen trains the Munnings filly for Winchell, Thomas Reiman, William Dickson, and Deborah Easter. Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard Sunday.

Gone Glimmering was third, Lucky Jingle was fourth, while Specially, the even-money favorite off an eye-catching debut last month at Keeneland, faded to last.

Big opener for Lothenbach

It’s been an exceptional October for owner Bob Lothenbach, the Minnesota businessman who races under the nom de course of Lothenbach Stables. Not only did he tie for leading owner at the Keeneland meet that ended Saturday (with Susan and Jim Hill, four wins each), but his red and blue silks were carried to victory in three of the first five races – all maiden-specials at a mile or longer – on the Churchill opener.

Lothenbach won the first race with Emily’s Oasis ($10.40), the fourth with She Can’t Sing ($24.40), and the fifth with Off the Meds ($28.40).