Sandman breaks his maiden Aug. 10 at Saratoga (NYRA/Coglianese)
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Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ 2-year-old colt Sandman continues his journey on the Road to the Kentucky Derby as the headliner in Sunday’s 12th running of the $200,000 Street Sense Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs – opening day of the 26-day Fall Meet.
The 1 1/16-mile contest for 2-year-olds is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season, offering the top five finishers points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale toward qualifying for the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 3.
The Street Sense will go as Race 10 of 11 on Sunday’s card, which also features the $200,000 Rags to Riches Stakes (Listed) for 2-year-old fillies, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks Prep Season race. First post is set for 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Street Sense slated to go at 5:25 p.m.
Trained by Mark Casse, Sandman broke his maiden in his second start, winning by 1 ¼ lengths at Saratoga on Aug. 10, earning a solid 90 Brisnet Speed Rating. He followed that performance with a fifth-place finish in the Iroquois Stakes (GIII), the first leg of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A $1.2 million OBS March Sale purchase, Sandman will be ridden in the Street Sense by Kentucky Derby 150-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and will break from post No. 4.
Enter SANDMAN, the 2YO son of @Gainesway stallion Tapit, who breaks his maiden in the first race with @DavisJockey up for trainer @markecasse. pic.twitter.com/6Az1PqplFF
— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 10, 2024
Among Sandman’s rivals entered in the Street Sense are Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile winner Tiztastic; Valene Farms’ Breeders’ Futurity (GI) fourth-place finisher Dapper Moon and BBN Racing’s recent Keeneland maiden special weight winner Bracket Buster.
Here is the field for the Street Sense Stakes in post-position order (with jockey and trainer):
- Big Much (Florent Geroux, Norm Casse)
- Bracket Buster (Axel Concepcion, Vicki Oliver)
- Baby Boat (Gerardo Corrales, Jimmy DiVito)
- Sandman (Hernandez, Mark Casse)
- Tiztastic (Cristian Torres, Steve Asmussen)
- Reach for the Rose (Jaime Torres, Saffie Joseph Jr.)
- Dapper Moon (Ricardo Santana Jr., Dallas Stewart)
- Comes a Time (Luis Saez, Brad Cox)
- Forged Steel (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr.)
- Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott)
Sunday’s card marks the first of two Stars of Tomorrow programs at Churchill Downs, which exclusively feature up-and-coming 2-year-olds. Since its inception in 2005, Stars of Tomorrow has launched the careers of numerous champions, including Horse of the Year winners Gun Runner (2017) and Rachel Alexandra (2009); Kentucky Derby victors Super Saver (2010), Mandaloun (2021) and Mystik Dan (2024); as well as Longines Kentucky Oaks winners Lemons Forever (2006), Rachel Alexandra (2009), Believe You Can (2012), Monomoy Girl (2018), Secret Oath (2022), Pretty Mischievous (2023) and Thorpedo Anna (2024).
In addition to the excitement on the track, Sunday kicks off the 26-day Fall Meet with Family Adventure Day. Children 12 and under are encouraged to come in costume and participate in Trick-or-Treat at the Track from 12:30-4 p.m., with 15 “Trick-or-Treat Boo Stations” scattered throughout the facility. Activities include a pumpkin patch, face painting, arts and crafts and bounce houses. General admission is $9 and up to two children may attend free per paying adult.
Sunday will also honor First Responders, offering free general admission for those who present a valid ID. Discounted tickets to Millionaires Row or the Sky Terrace are available by calling (502) 636-4450, subject to availability.
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
Live coverage of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet will be shown on FanDuel TV.
For more information about the Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
