Opening Day Stakes Advances: Street Sense and Rags to Riches

Oct 22, 2024 Kevin Kerstein

D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ 2-year-old colt Sandman continues his journey on the Road to the Kentucky Derby as the headliner in Sunday’s 12th running of the $200,000 Street Sense Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs – opening day of the 26-day Fall Meet.

The 1 1/16-mile contest for 2-year-olds is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season, offering the top five finishers points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale toward qualifying for the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 3.

The Street Sense will go as Race 10 of 11 on Sunday’s card, which also features the $200,000 Rags to Riches Stakes (Listed) for 2-year-old fillies, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks Prep Season race. First post is set for 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Street Sense slated to go at 5:25 p.m.

Trained by Mark Casse, Sandman broke his maiden in his second start, winning by 1 ¼ lengths at Saratoga on Aug. 10, earning a solid 90 Brisnet Speed Rating. He followed that performance with a fifth-place finish in the Iroquois Stakes (GIII), the first leg of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A $1.2 million OBS March Sale purchase, Sandman will be ridden in the Street Sense by Kentucky Derby 150-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and will break from post No. 4.

Among Sandman’s rivals entered in the Street Sense are Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile winner Tiztastic; Valene Farms’ Breeders’ Futurity (GI) fourth-place finisher Dapper Moon and BBN Racing’s recent Keeneland maiden special weight winner Bracket Buster.

Here is the field for the Street Sense Stakes in post-position order (with jockey and trainer):

• Big Much (Florent Geroux, Norm Casse)
• Bracket Buster (Axel Concepcion, Vicki Oliver)
• Baby Boat (Gerardo Corrales, Jimmy DiVito)
• Sandman (Hernandez, Mark Casse)
• Tiztastic (Cristian Torres, Steve Asmussen)
• Reach for the Rose (Jaime Torres, Saffie Joseph Jr.)
• Dapper Moon (Ricardo Santana Jr., Dallas Stewart)
• Comes a Time (Luis Saez, Brad Cox)
• Forged Steel (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr.)
• Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott)

Sunday’s card marks the first of two Stars of Tomorrow programs at Churchill Downs, which exclusively feature up-and-coming 2-year-olds. Since its inception in 2005, Stars of Tomorrow has launched the careers of numerous champions, including Horse of the Year winners Gun Runner (2017) and Rachel Alexandra (2009); Kentucky Derby victors Super Saver (2010), Mandaloun (2021) and Mystik Dan (2024); as well as Longines Kentucky Oaks winners Lemons Forever (2006), Rachel Alexandra (2009), Believe You Can (2012), Monomoy Girl (2018), Secret Oath (2022), Pretty Mischievous (2023) and Thorpedo Anna (2024).

In addition to the excitement on the track, Sunday kicks off the 26-day Fall Meet with Family Adventure Day. Children 12 and under are encouraged to come in costume and participate in Trick-or-Treat at the Track from 12:30-4 p.m., with 15 “Trick-or-Treat Boo Stations” scattered throughout the facility. Activities include a pumpkin patch, face painting, arts and crafts and bounce houses. General admission is $9 and up to two children may attend free per paying adult.

Sunday will also honor First Responders, offering free general admission for those who present a valid ID. Discounted tickets to Millionaires Row or the Sky Terrace are available by calling (502) 636-4450, subject to availability.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.

Live coverage of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet will be shown on FanDuel TV.

For more information about the Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

GODOLPHIN’S UNDEFEATED GOOD CHEER HEADLINES $200,000 RAGS TO RICHES – Godolphin’s undefeated and highly impressive 2-year-old filly Good Cheer, who has won her first two starts by a combined 25 ¼ lengths, headlines Sunday’s 12th running of the $200,000 Rags to Riches Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs, marking her debut on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

The 1 1/16-mile Rags to Riches will be run as Race 9 of 11 on Sunday’s card and offers the top five finishers points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale towards qualifying for the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 2. Sunday’s first post is 1 p.m. with the Rags to Riches going at 4:55 p.m.

Trained by Brad Cox, the homebred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has been spectacular in two starts, most recently winning an allowance race at Churchill Downs on Sept. 28 by an eye-popping 17 lengths while earning an impressive 93 Brisnet Speed Rating. Good Cheer, who debuted with an 8 ¼-length victory at Horseshoe Indianapolis, has quickly established herself as a contender to watch in the 2-year-old filly division. Jockey Luis Saez, who guided Good Cheer to her allowance victory, will have the call again in the Rags to Riches from post position No. 6.

Among Good Cheer’s competitors in the Rags to Riches are Rigney Racing’s recent maiden special weight winner Claire’s Charm; Marylou Whitney Stables’ debut winner Alyeska; and Bobby Flay, Rocky Top Stable and James Ventura’s Schuylerville Stakes runner-up and Spinaway Stakes (GI) third-place finisher Sherbini.

Here is the field for the Rags to Riches Stakes in post-position order (with jockey and trainer):

• My Lil Punky (Junior Alvarado, John Ennis)
• Claire’s Charm (Tyler Gaffalione, Phil Bauer)
• Sherbini (Florent Geroux, Mark Casse)
• Alyeska (Ricardo Santana Jr., Norm Casse)
• Mechaya (Cristian Torres, Jimmy DiVito)
• Good Cheer (Saez, Cox)
• Adeera (Erik Asmussen, Steve Asmussen)
• Lady Orient (Edgar Morales, Tom Amoss)

Sunday’s opening day card also includes the $200,000 Street Sense Stakes (Grade III), the featured event on the first of two Stars of Tomorrow programs at Churchill Downs. These cards are dedicated entirely to 2-year-olds, a concept introduced in 2005 that has produced some of racing’s brightest stars.

Fans can watch and wager on the Rags to Riches, along with every race from Churchill Downs, on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.