Street Art lives up to expectations with debut win

ARCADIA, Calif. – Street Art, a bargain purchase for $37,000 as a yearling, won his debut in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at 4 1/2 furlongs on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux for his brother Keith, Street Art took the lead shortly after the start and was never bothered by his four rivals, pulling away by four lengths. Sent off favored, Street Art paid $5.40 and was timed in 52.05 seconds.

“He’s fast,” Kent Desormeaux said. “We were high on him. He’s done well with the other good ones in the mornings, so that’s a good sign.”

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Owned by Rocker O Ranch, Street Art is by Street Boss and is Keith Desormeaux’s third winner from 13 starters at the winter-spring meeting.

Through Sunday, Kent Desormeaux has won 14 races at the meeting, ranking 13th in the standings. Desormeaux, who did not ride from late July to December last year while dealing with personal issues, had a very slow start to the year, winning with 2 of 48 mounts in the first three months. He switched agents earlier this year, hiring Tony Matos.

Since April 1, Desormeaux has won with 11 of 44 mounts, or 25 percent of his rides.

“It’s been fun,” Desormeaux said. “It’s exciting. People are talking good stuff.”

Big Treat, the winner of a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old California-bred fillies on April 30 at Santa Anita, will not race again until the Del Mar summer season.

Trainer Ryan Hanson said Sunday that he will not run Big Treat in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante at five furlongs on June 20, the final day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

“I think giving her some time is best right now,” Hanson said.