There are many in Hollywood who might be proclaimed as ‘stars’ but on Saturday there can be only one stallion given ‘star’ status. Step forward the Darley leading third-crop sire Street Cry.
Not content with siring one G1 winner, he sired two when Zenyatta and Street Boss proved themselves leaders in their class when winning the Vanity and Triple Bend Handicaps respectively.
First on the card was Zenyatta who remained unbeaten in six when claiming her second G1 victory of the campaign. Stalking at the back as per usual, she made her move a little earlier and had to battle hard in the stretch to repel Tough Tiz’s Sis. Although this was her smallest-margin victory of her unbeaten career, her jockey Mike Smith was adamant “she wasn’t tested at all”.
All being well she will head to Del Mar now with her long-term aim being the Breeders’ Cup.
Later on the card was Street Boss, who took his season’s tally to five wins from six starts when coming from last to first to win the Triple Bend. Hailed as the leading sprinter on the West Coast, this was his first victory at his first attempt at the highest level.
Brought along slowly by his trainer, Bruce Headley, an ambitious plan has been mapped out for the rapidly improving sprinter, taking in the Bing Crosby at Del Mar, the Ancient Title at Oak Tree and culminating with the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Another Darley stallion to sire a Stakes winner on Saturday was Cherokee Run, when his son Cherokee Triangle won the Listed Come Summer Stakes at Canterbury Park. Appreciating the firm turf he won going away by a length to record the second Stakes victory of his career.
