Study Guide: 2023 Street Sense Stakes

Oct 27, 2023 J. Keeler Johnson

The Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby continues at Churchill Downs this Sunday with the running of the $200,000 Street Sense S. (G3).

Inaugurated in 2013, the Street Sense is making its debut as a Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier worth 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers. Eight talented two-year-olds have entered the Street Sense, so let’s take a race-by-race look at the entries:

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Generous Tipper

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Walking L Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Jeff Prunzik and Melissa Prunzik
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (91) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $116,550

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Stopshoppingdebbie
Color: Bay

It will be fitting if Generous Tipper wins the race named after his sire, 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. Generous Tipper has made steady progress for trainer Kenny McPeek and ran strongly in his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut, finishing third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. Squaring off against easier competition in the Street Sense can set the stage for victory.

#2 Generous Tipper used that good karma to easily break his maiden in Race 6 @EllisParkRacing!

Jockey: @b_hernandezjr
Trainer: @KennyMcPeek
Owner: Walking L Thoroughbreds LLC

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/QQbmKanRTP

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 28, 2023

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Gettysburg Address

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (76) when winning his debut at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $40,600

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Jojo Warrior
Color: Bay

Gettysburg Address didn’t run especially fast when winning his debut sprinting six furlongs at Ellis Park, but the son of Florida Derby (G1) winner Constitution is bred to stretch out in distance for hot trainer Brad Cox, who wins at a 28% rate with horses running one mile or farther for the first time. Don’t be surprised if Gettysburg Address outruns his 10-1 morning line odds.

#6 Gettysburg Address gets the job done in R4 at Ellis Park under Martin Chuan for trainer @bradcoxracing! 🤩

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/98IOnZc11A

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 6, 2023

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Northern Flame

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: John C. Oxley, Harold Lerner, and AWC Stables
Breeder: Debby M. Oxley
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $109,075

Sire: Flameaway
Dam: Darling’s Darling
Color: Bay

The second Kenny McPeek trainee in the Street Sense field has finished behind stablemate Generous Tipper in both of their meetings, but by only a neck when they finished third and fourth in the Breeders’ Futurity. Like Generous Tipper, Northern Flame is progressing in the right direction and looms among the main win threats in the Street Sense. It’s worth noting Northern Flame recorded his lone victory when wiring a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs.

Third times a charm for #6 Northern Flame, who graduates in gate-to-wire fashion in R5 under the Twin Spires! 🔥@JulienLeparoux had the mount for trainer @KennyMcPeek. @joesantos_33

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/8pN7hL6efK

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 15, 2023

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Moonlight

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Town and Country Racing and Madaket Stables
Breeder: Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (92) when breaking his maiden at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $70,500

Sire: Audible
Dam: Sundown
Color: Gray/roan

A son of 2018 Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Audible, Moonlight impressed in a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct last month, pressing the pace before seizing command to win by eight lengths. The 92 Brisnet Speed rating he posted ranks as the highest number in the Street Sense field, so don’t count Moonlight out of win consideration.

#11 Moonlight gets blinkers and graduates in R5 at Belmont for trainer Todd Pletcher with @iradortiz in the irons! 🌙

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/lVcpYL92gk

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 28, 2023

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Parchment Party

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Pin Oak Stud
Breeder: B. Flay Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: James Graham

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning his debut at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $69,000

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Life Well Lived
Color: Bay

Parchment Party ran boldly when debuting in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last month, launching a last-to-first rally up the inside to win by 1 1/4 lengths. There’s no guarantee Parchment Party will receive a similarly favorable rail run in the Street Sense, but the way he squeezed through tiny openings to win his debut was genuinely impressive for such a young horse.

.@James_D_Graham pilots #4 Parchment Party through traffic and up the rail to victory in R7 at Churchill Downs for trainer Bill Mott! 🌟

This 2-year-old colt by @WinStarFarm stallion Constitution was brave on debut for owner @PinOakStud.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/1Yd0WxBNwi

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 15, 2023

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Informed Patriot

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: J. Kirk and Judy Robison
Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Whisper Hill Farm
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (82) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $75,300

Sire: Hard Spun
Dam: Yawkey Way
Color: Dark bay/brown

After finishing fourth in his debut at Saratoga, Informed Patriot shipped to Churchill Downs and won a seven-furlong maiden special weight by half a length. He’s yet to run especially fast from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, but Informed Patriot has the pedigree to improve while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles. His full brother Spun to Run won the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

#8 Informed Patriot hangs on to break his maiden at second asking in R5 at Churchill Downs! The 2-year-old colt was piloted by @Tyler_Gaff and is trained by Steve Asmussen. 🇺🇸

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/UQ7kiV2RX5

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 22, 2023

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Barksdale

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Cypress Creek Equine
Breeder: Dixiana Farms
Trainer: William Walden
Jockey: Alex Achard

Top Speed Rating: (75) when wiring his debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Total Earnings: $20,400

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Charlotte Lucas
Color: Dark bay/brown

The second son of Street Sense in this field is Barksdale, who debuted in a one-mile maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis and led all the way to prevail by a neck. But Barksdale was growing leg-weary down the homestretch and is facing much tougher competition in the race named for his sire, so he’ll likely need improvement to challenge for a top-five finish.

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Liberal Arts

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Stephen Ferraro and Evan Ferraro
Breeder: Stephen Ferraro and Evan Ferraro
Trainer: Robert Medina
Jockey: Cristian Torres

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing third in the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $103,825

Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Ismene
Color: Gray/roan

Liberal Arts already has experience on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, rallying to finish third in the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs. He’s improved his Brisnet Speed rating with every start and enters the Street Sense off sharp workouts, so another competitive finish is within reach.