Street Sense tuned up to go
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Street Sense completed his major preparations for the Kentucky Cup Classic by breezing five furlongs early Tuesday in 1:01.80 over a fast track at Churchill Downs under regular rider Calvin Borel.
As usual, trainer Carl Nafzger expressed his satisfaction afterward, saying the colt has continued to progress since capturing the Aug. 25 Travers Stakes in his last start.
"He just keeps doing everything the right way," said Nafzger. "We're ready for the next race."
Street Sense went to the track shortly after 7:30 a.m. and took about 10 minutes before Borel guided him toward the rail down the backstretch. He went slowly early, going the first furlong in 13.80 seconds and the opening quarter-mile in 26. He then picked it up, finishing in fractions of 38.20 seconds, 49.20, and 1:01.80, and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.20. The workout was his fourth in a 15-day span, following similar moves on Sept. 11, 16, and 19.
"He's sharp, ready to roll," said Borel. "He's matured a lot, and he keeps moving forward. Carl has really kept him sound and happy, and that's the most important thing. This was just something to put a little air in him."
Street Sense, the Kentucky Derby winner, will face Derby runner-up Hard Spun in a small field expected for the Kentucky Cup Classic, which will be run Saturday for the 14th time at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. Entries for all five Kentucky Cup races were to be drawn Wednesday. The purse for the KC Classic is $350,000, which includes $150,000 for horses eligible to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, plus a $150,000 bonus to the winning connections if the horse has won a Grade 1 stakes in 2006-07.
Hard Spun arrived Monday at Turfway from Delaware Park, where he breezed five furlongs Sunday in 1:01.40. Trainer Larry Jones was en route Tuesday on a nine-hour drive from Delaware.
Earlier Tuesday, another Nafzger trainee, Lady Joanne, went five furlongs in 59.80 seconds under Borel. Lady Joanne, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama in her last start, will run next in the Oct. 7 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.