Jones makes summer plans for Super Steed, Street Band

Larry Jones has an ambitious schedule in mind for Street Band, winner of March’s Fair Ground Oaks (G2).

The trainer said Street Band, sixth last out in the Kentucky Oaks, will make her next start July 13 in the Grade 3, $200,000 Indiana Oaks. The Indiana Grand showcase for 3-year-old fillies goes 1 1/16 miles.

From there, Jones is targeting the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes on Aug. 17 at Saratoga. 

“I think the mile and a quarter would suit her,” Jones said.

Assuming all goes well in those two spots, Jones said his “No. 1 priority, the race we definitely want to make” is the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion Stakes on Sept. 21 at Parx Racing. That 1 1/16-mile feature carries a “Win and You’re In” ticket for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“When they put $1 million, it makes you want to go for it,” said Jones, who won the Cotillion in 2015 with I’m a Chatterbox.

Street Band is training for the Indiana Oaks at Churchill Downs, with her most recent work there a four-furlong breeze in 47.4 seconds June 11.

Jones is part of an ownership group in Street Band that also includes Ray Francis, Cindy Jones, Medallion Racing and MyRacehorse.com. The Istan filly was bred in Kentucky by Francis and the Joneses.

Street Band broke her maiden second out last September at Ellis Park, where Larry Jones spoke Wednesday at a media day previewing the Henderson, Ky., track’s upcoming meet.

The filly’s three victories are highlighted by her 3 ¾-length score over Liora on March 23 in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She went off at 26-1 odds May 3 in the Kentucky Oaks and was sixth in a race won by Serengeti Empress.

Super Steed, another 3-year-old graded stakes winner for Jones, is on the return after injuries kept the colt from continuing on the Kentucky Derby trail.

Jones said he hopes Super Steed will race Aug. 11 for the $100,000 Ellis Park Derby. The son of Super Saver hasn’t started since winning the Southwest Stakes (G3)  on Feb. 18 at Oaklawn Park.

Super Steed, a 62-1 shot, paid $126.60 on a $2 win ticket that day in Hot Springs, Ark. The victory was only the second of his career.

A bone bruise ended connections’ Derby dreams for Super Steed. He took three months off but has now resumed light training at Ellis Park.

“He just has to get his works under him,” Jones said. “He’ll get to breezing in the next couple weeks and get his fitness level up. That’ll be the biggest thing.”

Ellis Park locals Steed Jackson and Mike Presley campaign Super Steed, who Presley bred in Kentucky. 

A Super Steed return for the Ellis Park Derby “would be great because Mike and Steed are both from here,” Jones said.