Making a sustained rally from near the back, Street Band handed 11-10 favorite Guarana her first career defeat in the $1 million Cotillion (G1) at Parx on Saturday.
The 7-1 fifth choice in the field of 11 three-year-old fillies, Street Band was without speed early, trailing all but one into the first turn under Sophie Doyle. However, approaching the far turn, Street Band caught the eye as she began to pick off rivals one by one and continued her impressive rally while making a wide bid outside Guarana, who enjoyed a perfect trip rating in fourth early and advanced to take a short lead at the quarter pole.
“Honestly my trip, I had to go to Plan B and C,” Doyle said. “When she broke away from the gate I said, ‘you know what, there’s so much speed in here, I’m not going to rush her off her feet.’ I let her carry me into the race.
“As we started heading down the backside a couple of us started drifting away. She was traveling comfortably, within herself. I let her creep into the race in her own time. Then when we started to come down the back the inside started opening up. I had so many people tell me, ‘don’t go near the inside.’ So I just let her naturally take me around the outside. When we were coming around the home turn I was like, ‘come on girl, let’s get into it.’ She really exploded for me.”
Still full of run in upper stretch, Street Band had plenty in the tank to wear down Guarana and she drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Guarana held second by 3 3/4 lengths over 21-1 chance Horologist, with Bellafina another 3 1/4 lengths behind in fourth. Other notable also-rans were Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress and champion juvenile Jaywalk, who finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Owned by trainer Larry Jones, Cindy Jones, Ray Francis, Medallion Racing, and MyRaceHorse Stable, Street Band paid $17.40 after completing 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.20. The winner was bred in Kentucky by the Joneses and Francis.
The Cotillion was a “Win & You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge prep for the November 2 Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita, a race Street Band might now target.
This was the third graded stakes win of the year for Street Band, who previously captured the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and Indiana Oaks (G3). Third to Dunbar Road in the Alabama (G1) in her most recent start, she went unplaced in the Rachel Alexandra (G3) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) earlier this season. Her career record now stands at 12-5-0-3, $1,106,425.
Street Band is by Istan and out of Street Minstrel, by Street Cry. Street Band’s second dam was the Grade 1-winning Minstrel’s Lassie.
“The biggest thing about this family is that it matures late,” Larry Jones said. “I had the whole family and we have not been in a super hurry with her. The only time we really pushed her was at Fair Grounds and see if we could get her ready for the (Kentucky) Oaks. And then we could call it the way we would want it and pick our spots…we will see and give her off a little bit to Santa Anita.
“I trained her mother and she had six foals. Before this one and they ask why do I keep this mare? And I said it was one of the fastest horses I have ever trained. I had her at the same time I had Hard Spun. She is fast as Hard Spun and would outwork him sometimes but it took a long time to prove it, it’s all good…it’s very satisfying.”
In other racing action:
*California-based horses dominated the $310,000 Gallant Bob (G2) for three-year-olds, with 7-5 favorite King Jack wearing down second choice Landeskog in the final furlong to win by 1 1/2 lengths under Joel Rosario.
Second to Improbable in the $100,000 Shared Belief at Del Mar last month after winning his first two starts, King Jack paid $4.80 after completing six furlongs in 1:08.89. He’s owned by Michael Stinson and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.
*Coal Front re-rallied to outfinish Diamond King in the $153,000 Parx Dirt Mile by three-quarters of a length under Mike Smith.
“I had horse, he doesn’t care to be down in there (inside),” Smith said. “He’d probably would have preferred to be out, but I wasn’t given that opportunity, so he still ran good.”
Winner earlier this year of the Godolphin Mile (G2) and Razorback H. (G3), Coal Front paid $3.40 and covered one lap of the Parx oval in 1:37.53. He’s owned by Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners, and is trained by Todd Pletcher.
