Cary Street, saving ground every step of the way under Miguel Mena, outlasted Ever Rider to spring a 28-1 surprise in the $200,000 Greenwood Cup (gr. III) (VIDEO) at 1 1/2 miles on the main track at Parx Racing Sept. 1.
The first of three grade III events on the Parx Labor Day program went to JBL Thoroughbreds and Walsh Racing's 5-year-old son of Smarty Jones , trained by Brendan Walsh. Making his stakes debut in the Greenwood Cup, Cary Street defeated Ever Rider by one length, with even-money choice Micromanage five lengths farther back in third.
Attempting the 12-furlong distance for the first time in his career, Cary Street was timed in 2:30.71 over a fast track, paying $59.80, $15.80, and $5.60. The Argentine-bred distance specialist Ever Rider returned $10 and $5 while completing an eye-popping $681.80 exacta. Micromanage paid $2.40 to show and was part of a $2 trifecta worth $1,849.20.
Cary Street dropped back to seventh in the field of 10 shortly after the start while Mena guided the bay gelding to the rail, where they were able to track the leaders. Abraham established the early lead, stalked by Irsaal, Adirondack King, and Ever Rider, who was positioned at the rail through a half mile in :48.42 and six furlongs in 1:14.09.
As Cary Street advanced along the rail with Micromanage also reaching contention on his outside, Ever Rider and Kerwin Clark went for an early run on the inside, getting a slight lead over Abraham while completing the mile in 1:39.37. Ever Rider took control at the quarter pole as Abraham tired and led the field into the stretch while coming off the rail a bit leaving the turn.
Cary Street, also using a rail bid, drew alongside the leader approaching the furlong marker and got the better of Ever Rider in the drive for the wire under urging from Mena.
Micromanage, in tight for Joe Bravo at the quarter pole, lost some ground and was unable to muster much of a rally while coming in a distant third. Call Me George, Abraham, Irsaal, Sailor's Revenge, Adirondack King, Lideris, and Slim Pickins completed the order of finish.
Cary Street was bred in Kentucky by Darley out of the winning Sultry Song mare Shady Reflection.
He had not been out since June 29 when second at Churchill Downs in an allowance/optional claiming event over 1 1/6 miles. Cary Street won an allowance at nine furlongs at Churchill in May and now sports a 5-4-2 career mark in 17 races, earning $230,275 with the winner's share of $120,000.
Cary Street wins the Greenwood Cup.
