Street Beast

Connections of Stark Contrast (c, 3, Caravaggio--Catch the Eye, by Quality Road), second in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks Mar. 21 behind scratched GI Kentucky Derby contender Fulleffort (Liam's Map), could have entertained a Derby bid with the 50 points he earned at Turfway, but opted instead for the 35th running of the GI American Turf Stakes Saturday on the Derby undercard at Churchill Downs. And boy, did it pay off for the Michael McCarthy-trained Amerman homebred, who took home his first Grade I score. Sent as the 6-5 favorite,...

Hat Creek Racing's Percy's Bar (Upstart) has emerged from her comebacking victory in Friday's GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes in good order and will train up to the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks at Keeneland, trainer Ben Colebrook told the Keeneland media office on Saturday. "She will have all her works here," the conditioner said. "She's a Keeneland horse and she has already won at Churchill. We will wait until the last second to when we have to be there." Given that Percy's Bar bounced off the inside rail during her...

Springing an upset in Saturday's John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway, 15-1 longshot Great White (Volatile) came from just off the pace to earn his first stakes win over 2-1 chance Fulleffort (Liam's Map). With the victory, Great White earned 20 points toward the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, while the runner-up collected 10 points. The race also serves as the local prep for the Mar. 21 GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series. Dual stakes winner Street Beast (Street Sense), sent off...

   A debut second at Ellis Aug. 1 before winning just nine days ago over allowance company at Kentucky Downs, Street Beast earned his first stakes victory in the Global Tote Juvenile Mile Stakes when returning to Kentucky Downs Sunday. Away well from the gate, the even-money favorite was content to sit just off the speed up the backstretch. Chasing a lone leader around the far turn, Street Beast bided his time, but quickly rallied past the pacesetter, widening his advantage in the final furlong and scoring by seven lengths...