McKinzie took command at the top of the stretch and was never challenged as he rolled to a four-and-three-quarter-length victory in the G2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs 3 May.
The Alysheba was the first victory of the year for the four-year-old son of Street Sense, who entered the race off a narrow nose loss to Gift Box in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap.
Sent off as the heavy 3-5 betting favorite, McKinzie prompted the pace from the start after breaking from the rail. On the backstretch, jockey Mike Smith steadied McKinzie back from inside challenger Tom’s d’Etat, then swung the colt into the clear to re-engage the leader on the far turn. McKinzie took command at the top of the stretch and drew off to win easily.
McKinzie covered the mile and one sixteenth in 1:41.10 over a track officially rated as "good".
Bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Farm, McKinzie is out of the multiple Graded Stakes winning mare, Runway Model, winner of the G2 Darley Alcibiades, G2 Golden Rod, and placed in the G1 Ashland Stakes. McKinzie is a half-brother to Stakes-placed Rompin Reid (by Medaglia d’Oro), and hails from the family of Graded Stakes winners Saham (G3 Jefferson Cup) and Sea Ditty (G3 Affectionately Handicap).
In addition to McKinzie, Street Sense is also represented by 2019 Graded Stakes winners Dixie Blossoms (G1 Coolmore Classic in Australia), Champagne Anyone (G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks), Aztec Sense (G3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes) and Doctor Mounty (G3 Tropical Turf). Only the stallion Tapit has more Graded Stakes winners this year.
Street Sense is standing the 2019 breeding season at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for $50,000, stands and nurses.
