Champion and classic winner Street Sense, whose $75,000 fee is the highest for an incoming stallion this year, has covered his first mare. Standing at Sheikh Mohammed's Darley near Lexington, Street Sense was bred to Minister Wife, a grade II winner and graded producer owned by Darley.
"It went very well; he acted very professionally," said farm manager Michael Banahan. "I think he's going to be an excellent horse in the shed."
Street Sense, a son of Darley stallion Street Cry(by Machiavellian), was voted 2006 champion 2-year-old male after winning the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). Last year, he won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Travers Stakes (gr. I).
The mating of Street Sense to Minister Wife is rooted in the success enjoyed by the mare's graded stakes winner, Marietta, who is by Machiavellian. Last year at 3, Marietta set a track record in winning the Arlington Oaks (gr. III), and also took the Iowa Oaks (gr. III).
Minister Wife, by Deputy Minister, also is the dam of French stakes winner Thousand Islands. On the track, Minister Wife scored her big win in the Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II).