Street Band to train at Churchill for BC Distaff

Street Band made one last van ride back to her home base of Churchill Downs on Sunday, pulling out of the Parx stable gate at 3:12 a.m. and arriving in Louisville some 12 hours later. It will be her last long-distance van ride for a while. Trainer Larry Jones, who does the driving, said Street Band will be flown to Southern California for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Street Band earned an all-expenses paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup by virtue of her 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx. In a departure from her normal running style, Street Band rallied from last under Sophie Doyle to beat the previously undefeated Guarana.

“She grabbed her very lightly away from there and the next thing you know we were last,” Jones said. “They were rolling right along. I’m just glad Sophie didn’t get in her way when she wanted to make up that ground down the backside. She had her in a great position by that second turn, she was in position when the speed started backing up.”

Street Band covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.20 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99.

Jones said Street Band would do all of her serious training at Churchill before shipping to Santa Anita the week of the Breeders’ Cup.

Street Band is owned by Ray Francis; Jones and his wife, Cindy; Medallion Racing; and MyRacehorse.com.