Street Boss on the rise in sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. - The California stable that has had a near-constant presence in the national sprint division for more than two decades may be about to unveil another prospect.

Monday at Santa Anita, Street Boss, a winner of 2 of his 3 races this year, starts in an optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs for trainer Bruce Headley. Asked if he thought that Street Boss would eventually join such stable stars as Surf Cat, Softshoe Sure Shot, or even Kona Gold as a stakes runner, Headley had a quick response.

"I would think so," he said.

Street Boss will be favored in the optional claimer, which carries a purse of $61,000. He was beaten only a neck by Doppio in an optional claimer on Feb. 13. What made Street Boss's performance that day more remarkable was that he was running in a third-level optional claimer, a condition above his eligibility at the time.

"That's how much I thought of him," Headley said. "I thought it was a good idea. I had to run at that time."

Owned by Bluegate Corp., Marsha Naify, and Headley, Street Boss is back in the same condition Monday, having since won a second-level allowance race on March 6. In that race over 6 1/2 furlongs, he pulled clear in the final furlong to score by 2 1/2 lengths. A start in a stakes could be in the 4-year-old colt's near future if he runs well Monday. Headley said he has been in no hurry to start Street Boss in a stakes.

"I believe in seasoning," Headley said. "Every building is built a brick at a time. You don't skip a brick."

Street Boss runs near the front and is likely to follow Tontine Too, who is entered for an $80,000 claiming price. Trained by Howard Zucker, Tontine Too placed in stakes last fall at Zia Park and Bay Meadows.

One Union, second in a division of the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar in July 2006, makes his first start since finishing fifth in the Robert Kerlan Handicap for turf sprinters at Hollywood Park last July.

"The last time I ran him, he slipped leaving the gate and he came out sore behind," trainer Richard Mandella said. "He had a tibia stress fracture. It wasn't a terrible deal, but it required some time."

One Union may be near the lead early.

"He looks fabulous, the way he's going," Mandella said.