Two-time grade I winner Street Boss puts his five-race winning streak on the line when he takes on seven tough sprinters in the $250,000 Ancient Title Breeders Cup Stakes (gr. I) at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet Sept. 27.
The six-furlong test on Santa Anita's new Pro-Ride racing surface is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, guaranteeing the winner a berth in the Sentient Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) over the same track Oct. 25.
Street Boss, trained by Bruce Headley, has been freshened since posting back-to-back grade I wins in the Triple Bend and Bing Crosby handicaps in July. The 4-year-old Street Cry colt is owned by Headley, Marsha Naify and Bluegate Corp.
His rivals include the defending Ancient Title champion Idiot Proof, grade I winner In Summation, and Delta Storm -- impressive winner of the Pirates Bounty Handicap at Del Mar Sept. 3.
Street Boss, who likes to wind up a big run from the back of the pack, must break from post 1 with regular rider David Flores, which could mean some traffic issues. Street Boss won the six-furlong Bing Crosby from the rail, taking back at the start and circling seven wide into the lane to win going away by a length over In Summation.
The Crosby was won by In Summation in 2007. Waterford Stable's 5-year-old is always tough on a synthetic track, where he has won four times in eight starts since taking the Arlington Sprint Handicap on Polytrack in 2007. Trained by Christophe Clement, the son of Put It Back finished a close fourth in the Pat O'Brien Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar in his only start since the '08 Crosby.
With 10 wins in 24 lifetime starts and $983,166 in purses, In Summation is poised to go over the $1 million mark in the Ancient Title.
Idiot Proof, second in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint, has not won since last year's Ancient Title. He has posted four runner-up finishes and a third in five starts since then, however, including a second to the retired Benny the Bull in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on the World Cup program at Nad Al Sheba March 9.
Clifford Sise trains the 4-year-old Benchmark colt owned and bred in California by Pam and Martin Wygod. Idiot Proof leads the field in earnings with $1,284,992 while recording a 5-5-2 lifetime record in 13 starts.
Michael House's 7-year-old gelding Delta Storm could be the wild-card in the Ancient Title after his sharp win over Black Seventeen and Ancient Title rival Sailors Sunset in the Pirates Bounty at odds of 43-1. He has shown a fondness for synthetic tracks
“The Ancient Title’s going to be an extremely tough race,” jockey Aaron Gryder noted. “It’s the final prep for the Breeders’ Cup in California, so you’ll probably get some of the favorites. I liked his effort in his last race. Now, let’s take another leap forward."
Cost of Freedom, a four-time winner in 2008 recently claimed by John Sadler for $50,000 on behalf of Gary and Cecil Barber, makes his stakes debut.
$250,000 Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. I, Race 6, 3 p.m.), 3 & Up, 6 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey
1. Street Boss (KY), David R. Flores
2. Delta Storm (KY), Aaron T. Gryder
3. Decado (IRE), Alex O. Solis
4. Idiot Proof (CA), Garrett K. Gomez
5. Sailors Sunset (KY), Martin A. Pedroza
6. In Summation (FL), Corey S. Nakatani
7. Esperamos (KY), Julio A. Garcia
8. Cost of Freedom (CA), Tyler Baze
Each assigned 124 pounds.
Street Boss puts his five-race winning streak on the line in the Ancient Title Breeders Cup Stakes.
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