Promising juvenile colt Two Phil’s bookended a great weekend for his sire, Hard Spun, with a commanding five-and-a-quarter length victory in the G3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sunday, 30 October.
The win by Two Phil’s capped off a weekend Graded Stakes double for Hard Spun, who was also represented by G3 Rubicon Valley View Stakes winner, Sparkle Blue, at Keeneland on Friday.
Displaying an obvious affinity for the rain-soaked conditions at Churchill Downs, Two Phil’s overcame a rough trip into the clubhouse turn, where tight quarters led to quite a bit of bumping and to a few runners being carried wide. Once clear of that incident, Two Phil’s found running room along the inside rail, and saved ground while tracking the leading trio of Top Recruit (Midshipman), Boppy O and Frosted Departure (Frosted) onto the backstretch.
Two Phil’s began to gradually shift to the outside on the backstretch and ranged up to challenge the leaders while racing four-wide into the far turn. Two Phil’s took command at the top of the lane, and despite racing greenly through the final furlong, crossed the wire an easy winner.
Bred in Kentucky by Phillip Sagan and raced in partnership by Sagan with Patricia’s Hope LLC, Two Phil’s is out of Mia Torri, a Multiple Stakes-winning and Graded Stakes-placed daughter of General Quarters. Two Phil’s is now a two-time Stakes winner, having captured the Shakopee Juvenile at Canterbury Park in September.
Two Phil’s is one of 12 Stakes winners this year for his sire, Hard Spun. In addition to the Street Sense winner, Hard Spun is the sire of G3 winner Sparkle Blue, Hard to Figure, Sister Seagull, Hard Empire (G2 in Aust.), Aloha West, Loyalty, and Spun Glass.
