South Bend stays perfect in winning Churchill’s Street Sense stakes

By Jonathan Lintner
Photo: Coady Photography

South Bend bided his time, then split horses in the stretch Sunday, rallying in the middle of a five-wide battle at Churchill Downs to keep his record perfect in the $120,000 Street Sense Stakes.

The Sagamore Farm runner, a maiden winner over the track, also scored in a Keeneland allowance race back on Oct. 5. The son of Algorithms improved to 3-for-3 when finishing up the one-turn mile in a final time of 1:35.56.

Julien Leparoux rode the Stanley Hough-trained favorite, who was off at 7-5 in a field of 10 aspiring 2 year-old colts.

Silver Prospector set the pace when challenged to his outside by longshot Carpe Victoriam. They carved out the opening quarter mile in 22.87 before a half in 46.24. South Bend sat patiently in a pocket position along the rail before unleashing his winning move.

"Today's the first time we actually got a trip on the inside," Leparoux said. "Last time we were carried wide the whole way. He's still learning, but he's a nice horse. He's talented. I think he's going to get better."

"We were hoping for a shorter trip," Hough added. "Around the turn we were like, 'Be careful what you wish for,' because he had no place to go."

Fighting Seabee, Saratoga’s With Anticipation (G3) winner on turf ran on for second in his dirt debut. Silver Prospector held for third.


The Street Sense, named after the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner, has produced a number of starters on the first Saturday in May, most recently the 2019 favorite Improbable, who won this race last year when it was carded on Breeders’ Cup weekend at Churchill Downs.
Locally, it often serves as a lead in to the Nov. 30 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds around two turns. Hough called that a "logical step" for South Bend.
"I think he's actually going to handle it better -- two turns instead of one turn," Leparoux said. "He's that kind of horse. He broke good, but then he needs to get underneath (himself). I think he's going to travel good going two turns, and he's going to be much better."

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