Street Band has first work since Breeders' Cup

NEW ORLEANS – Big sister had her first post-Breeders’ Cup work Wednesday at Fair Grounds, while little sister is set for her second career start here on Saturday.

Street Band, who sits near the top of the 3-year-old filly class of 2019, worked three furlongs Wednesday at Fair Grounds, her first timed workout since a disappointing, if somewhat troubled, eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Street Band is capable of much better than that, as evidenced through wins in the Grade 1 Cotillion, Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, and Grade 3 Indiana Oaks earlier this year.

Street Band got six weeks of mere galloping since the Breeders’ Cup, hasn’t lost a lot of fitness, and if all goes well could make her 4-year-old debut Jan. 26 in the Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park. That’s the race that launched Midnight Bisou, sure to be champion older dirt mare this season, onto her 2019 campaign.

Street Band’s quality we already know, but Jones has hopes for her 2-year-old full sister, Street Missy, who was bumped at the start of her career debut Nov. 30 at Fair Grounds before running along encouragingly to finish fourth behind talented winner Ursula. Street Missy, by Istan out of Street Minstrel, is entered in a maiden race on Saturday’s excellent six-stakes card at Fair Grounds.

“Where she is right now and Street Band was last year is hopefully comparable,” said Jones, who co-bred and co-owns both horses. “For her to match up with Street Band, though, she’ll have to have a hell of a year.”

Jones has reason to hope and believe Street Band could turn out to be a superior 4-year-old. Street Minstrel has produced a bevy of foals and Jones knows the family is later maturing. You can see that in Street Band, who put on dozens of pounds of muscle from spring to fall. Mentally, Street Missy already has an edge on her talented older sister, who “can get wound up a bit,” Jones said, and gallops in draw reins to keep her from going too fast. Talent-wise out on the track, we’ll know more about Street Missy on Saturday.