Ichiban made her Stakes debut a winning one when pulling away through the stretch to win the $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes by five-and-a-quarter lengths at Saratoga on Sunday, 27 August.
The three-year-old Street Sense filly has now won three straight races, all at Saratoga.
Despite breaking awkwardly coming out of the starting gate, Ichiban nonetheless came away in front. She was soon joined by Timely Conquest, and jockey Jose Ortiz was content to let Timely Conquest take the lead as he settled Ichiban into a stalking position just to that filly’s outside.
The lead remained the same into the far turn, when Ichiban moved alongside to challenge Timely Conquest. The battle was brief, as Ichiban soon took command at the top of the lane and drew off for a convincing victory.
Bred in New York by Southern Equine Stables, Ichiban is out of the Out of Place mare, Cover Girl Elle. In addition to Ichiban, Cover Girl Elle has also produced multiple Graded Stakes-placed Ava’s Grace (second G3 Fantasy S., third in both the G1 La Troienne and G2 Adirondack Stakes).
In addition to Ichiban, Street Sense is represented by 2023 Graded Stakes winners Never Explain (G3 Dinner Party Stakes), Whelen Springs (G3 Philip H. Iselin) and First Mission (G3 Lexington Stakes); along with Stakes winners Road Bloc (Listed Jebel Ali Sprint), Baytown Chatterbox (Ellis Park Juvenile) and Notary.
