I love the introduction of the $200,000 Street Sense (G3) as a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier. It's the highlight of this Sunday's opening-day card at Churchill Downs, and it gives us an excellent race to discuss in the quiet week leading up to the Breeders' Cup.
Since its inaugural running in 2013, the Street Sense has built a high profile as a Kentucky Derby prep. It's produced 15 Kentucky Derby starters, including Sovereignty, who in 2024-25 became the first horse to complete the Street Sense/Kentucky Derby double.
Churchill Downs, Sunday, October 26, 2025, Race 10Entries: Street Sense S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Vost (KY) Luis Saez 122 William Walden 9/2 2 2Ganaas (KY) Edgar Morales 122 Andrew McKeever 5/1 3 3Universe (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Kenneth G. McPeek 5/2 4 4Very Connected (KY) Emmanuel Esquivel 122 Kenneth G. McPeek 8/1 5 5Bricklin (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Rodolphe Brisset 15/1 6 6I Did I Did (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Michael J. Maker 3/1 7 7Incredibolt (KY) Jaime A. Torres 122 Riley Mott 7/2
This year's Street Sense field is led by #3 Universe, a promising Kenny McPeek trainee making his two-turn debut. The bay colt faced adversity in his debut sprinting seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course, hitting the gate at the start and waiting behind rivals in the homestretch, but once clear he surged away to win by 4 1/2 lengths.
McPeek isn't known for cranking his juveniles to win on debut, and when they do, they often develop into stakes horses. That was the case for Universe. His second start came in the Champagne (G1) racing a one-turn mile, and he outran his 18-1 odds.
Universe initially stayed close to the Champagne pace, racing within 1 1/2 lengths of fractions of :22.53 and :44.24. That was an impressive achievement given that the victorious pacesetter Napoleon Solo ran the second quarter-mile in a blazing :21.71.
Universe couldn't keep pace with Napoleon Solo as the latter cranked up the heat through six furlongs in 1:07.88; indeed, Universe dropped 10 lengths off the pace. But he refused to give up and actually gained back some ground down the homestretch, staying on to finish third by 7 1/4 lengths while Napoleon Solo hit the wire in a quick 1:34.57.
The Street Sense is shaping up as an easier spot. There isn't a ton of pace on paper, so Universe should be able to stick close to a slower tempo, leaving him with plenty in the tank for the homestretch. His pedigree suggests he'll appreciate stretching out around two turns, and dropping blinkers is another possible positive.
Throw in the fact Universe is picking up jockey Jose Ortiz (a 40% winner teaming up with McPeek over the last two months per Brisnet statistics), and he's a compelling choice to win the Street Sense.
Another logical contender is #2 Ganaas. The stoutly bred son of War Front out of a Tapit mare is unbeaten in two starts sprinting. First he trounced a five-furlong maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis by four lengths. Then he smashed a six-furlong Churchill Downs allowance by 5 1/4 lengths.
Ganaas has shown pace-pressing speed in both of his sprint starts and may secure an uncontested lead while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles. If he shakes loose through modest pace fractions, he may prove difficult to run down in the homestretch.
#8 Incredibolt failed to factor in his debut sprinting, finishing fourth after racing off the pace. But he improved sharply when stretching out over one mile for his second start. Sent off at 2-1 in a Churchill Downs maiden special weight, Incredibolt tracked the pace in third place before taking over in the final furlong to score by two lengths.
Brisnet statistics indicate trainer Riley Mott strikes at a lofty 26% rate with last-out maiden winners, so Incredibolt has a good chance to repeat or improve upon his debut performance.
#1 Vost, the third-place finisher from Churchill's Iroquois (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, could factor from off the pace, but must improve upon his career-best 67 Beyer speed figure if he's going to challenge for top honors.
The same goes for #6 I Did I Did. The son of Curlin exits a maiden win racing 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs, but the 67 Beyer he posted leaves him with form to find against the Street Sense favorites. On the bright side, he's bred to improve with maturity, and a bullet five-furlong workout in :59 4/5 at Churchill Downs earlier this month suggests he can move forward under five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
Selections
1st: #3 Universe
2nd: #2 Ganaas
3rd: #7 Incredibolt
4th: #6 I Did I Did
Now it's your turn! Who do you like in the Street Sense Stakes?
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