After bumping with a rival into the first turn, Two Phil's tracked a contested early pace down the backstretch and then rolled home to a 5 ¼-length win over Hayes Strike in Sunday's $199,800 Street Sense (G3) – the featured event on opening day of Churchill Downs' 133rd Fall Meet and 18th annual Stars of Tomorrow I program for juveniles.
Jareth Loveberry rode the winner for trainer Larry Rivelli and owners Vince Foglia's Patricia's Hope LLC and Phillip Sagan as the Kentucky-bred son of Hard Spun clocked 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track in 1:47.31.
Breaking from post No. 5 in the field of 10 2-year-olds, Two Phil's jostled with Red Route One while trying establish position into the first turn and then tucked into an inside tracking position down the backstretch as Top Recruit, Boppy O and 2-1 favorite Jace's Road dictated the pace through fractions of :23.93, :48.21, and 1:14.06.
Two Phil's gradually shifted outside of the leading trio down the backstretch, ranged up well in hand to bid for the lead at the five-sixteenths pole, and assumed command entering the lane before drawing off for the win.
“He's shown a lot of maturity in his last couple of starts,” said Loveberry. “He's started learning a lot more and settling early into the race. He got a little bounced around today, but down the backside I got him to settle nicely and at the half-mile pole we were in a good position. I tipped him out a little bit and he showed me a lot of run.
“This is my first graded stakes win at Churchill Downs and I'm very excited and thankful to Larry and Vince for giving me this opportunity.”
Two Phil's, who earned $118,350 for the win and improved his record to 3-0-0 from five starts and earnings of $195,450. He returned $17.24
Fliparino was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third after a slow start.
Top Recruit, Red Route One, Honed, Frosted Departure, Jace's Road, Boppy O, and Western Ghent completed the order of finish. King Ice was scratched.
Two Phil's finished seventh in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland three weeks ago. Prior to that, he was a 9 ¾-length winner of the $50,000 Shakopee Juvenile at Canterbury Park in mid-September.
“He's been roughed around a couple times but Jareth has really figured him out,” Rivelli said. “He gave him a great ride today and has worked with him in each start to get to mature. He's learned to relax and he's a solid, sound horse. He ran great today and we're thrilled with his potential.”
A start in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade 2) at the same 1 1/16-mile distance at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26 miles could be next. The Kentucky Jockey Club is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” point series that will determine the field of 20 horses that will compete in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6.
Purchased for $150,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Two Phil's was bred by co-owner Phillip Sagan.
The Street Sense is named in honor of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense who became the first horse to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and the Kentucky Derby the next season. He also was the first Champion 2-Year-Old Male to win the Kentucky Derby since Spectacular Bid, winner of the 1979 Kentucky Derby.
Racing Hall of Famer Carl Nafzger, trainer of Street Sense, the 2006 Champion 2-Year-Old Male, and 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled, that season's Champion 3-Year-Old Male, was on hand to present the winning trophy Sunday.
The post ‘We’re Thrilled With His Potential’: Two Phil’s Sails To Street Sense Win On Opening Day At Churchill Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
