James Tafel’s Street Sense, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), continued to train toward his summer and fall campaign with a five furlong workout July 13 at Churchill Downs.
The homebred son of Street Cry covered the distance over a fast surface in 1:02.20 for trainer Carl Nafzger. Exercise rider Tracey Wilkes was aboard Street Sense in place of Kentucky Derby-winning jockey and regular workout partner Calvin Borel, who was in his native Louisiana to ride in the July 13 inaugural “Cajun Jockey Challenge” at Evangeline Downs. The work ranked 10th out of 27 at the distance.
Street Sense covered the distance in fractional times of :13.80, :27, :38.80 and :50.60. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60 and seven furlongs in 1:28.
Trainer Ian Wilkes, a former Nafzger assistant, oversaw the work for the veteran trainer, who was out of town. Wilkes called the effort a “good maintenance work” as Street Sense prepared for a return to competition late this month or in early August. Street Sense is expected to run in either the July 29 Jim Dandy (gr. II) at Saratoga or the Aug. 5 $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.
“He’s a horse that’s happy, and that’s the main thing,” Wilkes said. “Condition-wise he’s great and he’s happy. Everything is falling into place and the timing is right on schedule. Whether he goes to the Jim Dandy or the Haskell – one of the two – that’s up to Carl and Mr. Tafel.”
Street Sense has not competed since his narrow loss to Curlin in the Preakness (GI) on May 19 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Wilkes said the colt continues to show that he’s doing well in the aftermath of his Kentucky Derby campaign and his participation in two of the three Triple Crown events.
“He’s doing great,” said Wilkes. “He’s bucking and playing. He’s not sour about what he’s doing. He’s enjoying it.”
Street Sense is expected to have a least one more work at Churchill Downs before he departs to join Nafzger’s stable at Saratoga July 21. He will remain in the shedrow over the next two days as there will be no training at Churchill Downs on Saturday and Sunday because of a concert by The Police set for the historic track on Saturday, July 14.
Also working for Nafzger on Friday was the Bentley Smith Revocable Trust’s Lady Joanne. The 3-year-old daughter of Orientate , a runner-up to Octave in the recent Mother Goose (gr. I) at Belmont Park and winner of Churchill Downs’ Dogwood Breeders’ Cup (gr. III) and Golden Rod (gr. II), breezed four furlongs in :51.60. Exercise rider Karen Salisbury was aboard for the move, which ranked 61st among 76 works at the distance.