Taking advantage of a torrid pace, Street Story came from well off the pace for a 1 3/4-length triumph over Miss Behaviour in the $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park June 29 (VIDEO).
Ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Steve Asmussen, Street Story broke last in the seven-horse field as favored Red Velvet and Irad Ortiz Jr. got the first quarter-mile in a quick :21.48 while being closely tracked by longshot Fat Kat. As the field rounded the turn in the 6 1/2-furlong main track test with a half-mile completed in :44.39, Miss Behaviour had overtaken Fat Kat to assume the place and Street Story continued to race in fifth along the rail.
Entering the stretch, Javier Castellano set Miss Behaviour down to challenge Red Velvet and those two engaged in a duel won by Miss Behaviour by the time they reached the eighth pole. By that point, Street Story had been moved to the outside and bore down on the leaders, overtaking Miss Behaviour late and striding out to the final margin, stopping the timer in 1:17.08. Miss Behaviour held second, followed by another closer, Milam. The order was completed by Red Velvet, West Coast Chick, Isabelle, and Fat Kat.
The winner paid $22.20, $8.70 and $4.20, while Miss Behaviour returned $5 and $3.10 and Milam paid $2.80 to show.
The victory was the fourth in eight lifetime starts for Street Story, a daughter of Street Cry --Perfect Story (by Tale of the Cat) bred in Kentucky by John C. Oxley. She has earned $251,210.
It was the third stakes triumph for Street Story, who races for Whispering Oaks Farm. Consigned by Gainesway to the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale, the filly was purchased for $155,000 by Whispering Oaks and Carol Castille.
Previous to the Victory Gallop, the filly won the Dixie Belle Stakes and Instant Racing Stakes, both at Oaklawn Park. Street Story was coming off a break of more than 2 1/2 months after her Instant Racing success.
"We freshened her up and gave her three breezes here," said Toby Sheets, Asmussen's assistant. "She's been doing really, really good; she likes it here. The pace worked out super, it was a big plus today. We're just going to enjoy the moment and go from there."
"I saw there was a lot of speed, and I was right. In a couple of races she had come from off the pace, and that was the reason why I thought she'd have a good chance," jockey Rosario said. "I saw (Miss Behaviour) starting to slow down, and (Street Story) kept fighting and fighting. Going past the eighth pole, I thought I had a good chance to win the race."