Street Sense (USA)
February 23, 2004 – Living
Street Cry (IRE) x Bedazzle (USA), by Dixieland Band (USA)
Family 22-b
February 23, 2004 – Living
Street Cry (IRE) x Bedazzle (USA), by Dixieland Band (USA)
Family 22-b
The first horse to break the so-called “jinx” on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (USA-G1) winner by winning the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), Street Sense was the champion of his crop at 2 and was among the leaders of a better than average group of American 3-year-old colts at 3. He has been a good sire just below the elite level.
Race record
13 starts, 6 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$4,383,200
2006:
2007:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 2006, 4 pounds above second-rated Scat Daddy.
Rated at 126 pounds for his Kentucky Derby performance on the 2007 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 5 pounds below overall highweight Manduro and 2 pounds below the 129 pounds assigned to Curlin (the top dirt horse and top 3-year-old male in the rankings) for his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (USA-G1) and to Invasor (the top older male on dirt) for his win in the Emirates Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1).
As an individual
A handsome, short-coupled dark bay or brown horse standing 16.2½ hands, Street Sense has a well-laid shoulder, a deep body, good bone, and powerful hindquarters, much in the mold of his sire. When racing, he typically came from off the pace but could be counted on for his response whenever his jockey asked. He tended to loaf if he made a clear lead too soon but was thoroughly determined when going eyeball-to-eyeball. Those who know him well have described him as an intelligent, professional horse to be around.
As a stallion
Street Sense typically sires progeny that may come on as late-season juveniles but are usually better at 3 than 2. As of April 9, 2022, The Jockey Club credits him with 85 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Notable progeny
Aubby K. (USA), Callback (USA), Dixie Blossoms (USA), Hallowed Crown (AUS), Maxfield (USA), McKinzie (USA), Politeness (AUS), Sense of Occasion (AUS), Speaker's Corner (USA), Street Fancy (USA), Sweet Reason (USA), Wedding Post (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Roaring Lion (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Chesapeake Farm in Kentucky, Street Sense was bred and owned by James B. Tafel, who also bred and owned the colt's dam. He was trained by Carl Nafzger and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Calvin Borel, his regular pilot. Following the 2007 Preakness, Tafel sold Street Sense’s breeding rights to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley Stud. Street Sense entered stud in 2008 and currently stands in Kentucky at Darley at Jonabell. He stood in Japan during the 2013 Northern Hemisphere season and has also shuttled to Australia.
Pedigree notes
Street Sense is inbred 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. The first foal of his dam, he is a half brother to stakes winner Elusive Sparkle (by Elusive Quality), dam of Australian listed stakes winner Camdus (by Street Cry).
Bedazzle, the dam of Street Sense, is a winning half sister to listed stakes winner Binalegend (by Binalong) and is out of the listed stakes-winning His Majesty mare Majestic Legend whose half brother Mr. Greeley (by Gone West) won three Grade 3 races and was second in the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (USA-G1) before going on to a good stud career. Majestic Legend is also a half sister to Grade 2-placed Talltalelady (by Naskra), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Tell It as It Is (by Chester House), and to Society Gal (by Linkage), dam of 2010 Humana Distaff Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mona de Momma (by Speightstown) and, through her, second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Vekoma.
In addition, Majestic Legend is a half sister to Episode (by Kris S.), dam of Grade 3 winner Vestrey (by Vicar); to Uforia (by Zilzal), dam of multiple Grade/Group 3 winner Tajaaweed (by Dynaformer) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods; and to Brightbraveandgood (by Smart Strike), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Ol’ Fashion Gal. Majestic Legend and her siblings were produced from Long Legend (by Reviewer), whose dam Lianga (by Dancer’s Image) was a multiple Group 1 winner in France.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credits
Top: Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Jonabell in 2016. Used by permission.
Bottom: Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Jonabell in 2020. Used by permission.
Race record
13 starts, 6 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$4,383,200
2006:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Lane's End Futurity (USA-G2, 8.5FA, Keeneland)
- 3rd Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Futurity (USA-G3, 8FD, Arlington Park)
2007:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Tampa Bay Derby (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Tampa Bay Downs; new track record 1:43.11)
- 2nd Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1, 9FA, Keeneland)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (USA-G2A, 9FD, Turfway Park)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2006)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 3-year-old male (2007)
Assessments
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 2006, 4 pounds above second-rated Scat Daddy.
Rated at 126 pounds for his Kentucky Derby performance on the 2007 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 5 pounds below overall highweight Manduro and 2 pounds below the 129 pounds assigned to Curlin (the top dirt horse and top 3-year-old male in the rankings) for his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (USA-G1) and to Invasor (the top older male on dirt) for his win in the Emirates Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1).
As an individual
A handsome, short-coupled dark bay or brown horse standing 16.2½ hands, Street Sense has a well-laid shoulder, a deep body, good bone, and powerful hindquarters, much in the mold of his sire. When racing, he typically came from off the pace but could be counted on for his response whenever his jockey asked. He tended to loaf if he made a clear lead too soon but was thoroughly determined when going eyeball-to-eyeball. Those who know him well have described him as an intelligent, professional horse to be around.
As a stallion
Street Sense typically sires progeny that may come on as late-season juveniles but are usually better at 3 than 2. As of April 9, 2022, The Jockey Club credits him with 85 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 10th on the North American general sire list in 2021.
Notable progeny
Aubby K. (USA), Callback (USA), Dixie Blossoms (USA), Hallowed Crown (AUS), Maxfield (USA), McKinzie (USA), Politeness (AUS), Sense of Occasion (AUS), Speaker's Corner (USA), Street Fancy (USA), Sweet Reason (USA), Wedding Post (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Roaring Lion (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Chesapeake Farm in Kentucky, Street Sense was bred and owned by James B. Tafel, who also bred and owned the colt's dam. He was trained by Carl Nafzger and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Calvin Borel, his regular pilot. Following the 2007 Preakness, Tafel sold Street Sense’s breeding rights to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley Stud. Street Sense entered stud in 2008 and currently stands in Kentucky at Darley at Jonabell. He stood in Japan during the 2013 Northern Hemisphere season and has also shuttled to Australia.
Pedigree notes
Street Sense is inbred 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. The first foal of his dam, he is a half brother to stakes winner Elusive Sparkle (by Elusive Quality), dam of Australian listed stakes winner Camdus (by Street Cry).
Bedazzle, the dam of Street Sense, is a winning half sister to listed stakes winner Binalegend (by Binalong) and is out of the listed stakes-winning His Majesty mare Majestic Legend whose half brother Mr. Greeley (by Gone West) won three Grade 3 races and was second in the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (USA-G1) before going on to a good stud career. Majestic Legend is also a half sister to Grade 2-placed Talltalelady (by Naskra), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Tell It as It Is (by Chester House), and to Society Gal (by Linkage), dam of 2010 Humana Distaff Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mona de Momma (by Speightstown) and, through her, second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Vekoma.
In addition, Majestic Legend is a half sister to Episode (by Kris S.), dam of Grade 3 winner Vestrey (by Vicar); to Uforia (by Zilzal), dam of multiple Grade/Group 3 winner Tajaaweed (by Dynaformer) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods; and to Brightbraveandgood (by Smart Strike), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Ol’ Fashion Gal. Majestic Legend and her siblings were produced from Long Legend (by Reviewer), whose dam Lianga (by Dancer’s Image) was a multiple Group 1 winner in France.
Books and media
- Footage of Street Sense’s spectacular victory in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile can be accessed at the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Fame (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/street-sense).
- Darley’s footage of Street Sense winning the 2007 Travers Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opkYXNMKFwQ.
- A Blood-Horse video looking at Street Sense as a young stallion can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k3BPIsyIqE.
Fun facts
- Shortly after Street Sense’s birth, owner James Tafel and trainer Carl Nafzger paid a visit to Cherokee Farm to see the colt. Farm owner Drew Nardiello told them, “The only thing wrong with this foal is he’s too perfect. He doesn’t have anywhere to go but down.”
- Street Sense’s 10-length winning margin in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (USA-G1) set a record for that event that has yet to be surpassed. Nonetheless, race caller Trevor Denman was so focused on the big outside moves being made by Great Hunter and Circular Quay coming off the final turn that he totally missed Street Sense shooting through on the inside until the colt was five lengths clear and drawing away.
- Street Sense’s Kentucky Derby was the first watched in person by a reigning English monarch as Queen Elizabeth II was in attendance. Following the Derby, the colt’s jockey Calvin Borel received an invitation from then-president George Bush to attend a state dinner honoring the Queen and was flown to Washington for the event.
- Street Sense was the first of three Kentucky Derby winners in four years for Calvin Borel, who also scored with Mine That Bird (2009) and Super Saver (2010). He was the only one of Borel's Derby winners to win another race after wearing the roses.
- Carl Nafzger was intimately familiar with Street Sense’s family, having also trained the colt’s dam Bedazzle and his maternal granddam, Majestic Legend, for James Tafel.
- As a believer in a holistic approach to horse health and race training, Nafzger made use of an equine chiropractor and herbal supplements as well as more traditional treatments for stress and injuries. As part of his health regimen, Street Sense received acupuncture treatments from veterinarian and equine acupuncturist Chris Cahill about every six weeks.
- Street Sense is the namesake for a stakes race for juveniles at Churchill Downs.
Photo credits
Top: Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Jonabell in 2016. Used by permission.
Bottom: Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Jonabell in 2020. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 9, 2022