Street Sense

The stirring stretch drive with a dead-game Grasshopper in the Travers Stakes (G1) on August 25 at Saratoga Race Course not only put another victory on Street Sense's resume, it moved him that much closer to possible Eclipse Award honors, including Horse of the Year.

But there was a bump in the road on September 29 when Street Sense simply couldn't catch Hard Spun in the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G2) at Turfway Park.

"You can't go that slow and catch a horse like that," jockey Calvin Borel said in reference to the slow early pace Hard Spun set. "Don't worry, my horse will show up in four weeks. He always struggles a little bit on Polytrack, but that sets him up perfectly. I ain't worried about it. In four weeks, he'll be a different horse."

Street Sense will have the opportunity to justify Borel's faith on October 27 at Monmouth Park in the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1).

October 23 - Five furlongs breezing in 1:01.20 at Monmouth Park, track fast. Fifth best of 13 workouts at the distance.

October 15 - Five furlongs breezing in 1:00.80 at Churchill Downs, track fast. Second best of 30 workouts at the distance.

October 9 - Four furlongs breezing in :48.40 at Churchill Downs, track fast. Seventh best of 38 workouts at the distance.

Trainer Carl Nafzger, when it was pointed out Street Sense had never won on Polytrack:

"You can't worry about not liking a track. If you do, you've already talked yourself out of winning. I worry about executing. You put your horse in the race. You execute. You read what you did wrong or right. When I watch a race, I only look at three things: did I make a mistake? Did the jockey make a mistake? Did the horse make a mistake? Then I adjust to that."