The three previous Street Sense Stakes winners at this distance were Incredibolt in 2025, Sovereignty in 2024, and Liberal Arts in 2023. Each came from well off the pace to go last-to-first.
This is a road to Kentucky Derby 2027 points race.
Horse-by-Horse Street Sense Stakes Analysis
1. Ritzy Rags (50-1)
Ritzy Rags dropped from maiden special weight company into a $30,000 maiden claiming race at Churchill Downs last time and won by a head after chasing the pace. He was claimed out of that race, and Rafael Bejarano, his winning rider, stays aboard.
His pedigree offers some encouragement for the added distance. He is by Union Rags, with A.P. Indy as his damsire, so there is a reasonable pedigree argument for handling a route. He also recorded a bullet five-furlong workout on October 9 in 1:01, best of six.
However, this is a major class increase. He beat only four rivals in his narrow maiden claiming victory, and the Street Sense Stakes will demand considerably more.
2. Blessed Flyer (7-2)
Blessed Flyer is two-for-two, winning his debut at four and a half furlongs by a head before taking the Bashford Manor Stakes at six furlongs by another head.
He was scheduled to run in the Iroquois Stakes but ran off before the start and was scratched. He has not raced since June, and his workout schedule has included gaps. He worked five furlongs in 1:00 on October 18, the fastest of 15 recorded works at that distance.
He adds blinkers and his Bashford Manor pilot Brian Hernandez Jr. stays aboard. His Final Time Ratings improved from 104 in his debut to 126 in his second start. That is a positive progression, but both races were sprints, and now he must handle a mile and a sixteenth.
I’m concerned about the combination of the missed start, the interrupted workout schedule, and the distance increase. The talent is there, but he has more questions to answer than his 7-2 morning line suggests.
3. Card Man (5-2)
Card Man is the second choice on the morning line for trainer Chad Brown, with Flavien Prat aboard. He finished second in his six-furlong debut after chasing from third, beaten a length and three-quarters by Q B Rocket. Three horses from that race won their next starts, and Q B Rocket subsequently finished third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
Card Man returned for a one-turn mile at Belmont Park and delivered a five-length victory. He chased from third, moved forward, took the lead, and pulled away. His Final Time Rating improved from 126 in his debut to 129 in his second start.
I like that progression. He improved without making an enormous numerical leap, and that leaves room for another forward move. He now stretches out around two turns for the first time, but the way he finished his mile victory is encouraging.
Read more at Today's Racing Digest
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