After a rough-and-tumble run into the first turn cost Two Phil's all chance in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), the 2-year-old son of Hard Spun wheeled back three weeks later with a resounding score Oct. 30 in the $200,000 Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
“(Two Phil's) really learned a lot after that last race,” jockey Jareth Loveberry said. “I told (trainer) Larry (Rivelli) after the (Breeders’ Futurity) I like him better now than I did before. He showed me a lot more maturity. He did settle but just got a little tired last time.”
Prior to the Breeders' Futurity, Two Phil’s captured two straight wins sprinting—his Colonial Downs maiden tally and a facile romp in the Sept. 17 Shakopee Juvenile Stakes at Canterbury Park. Despite being out of the speedy stakes-winning sprinter Mia Torri (General Quarters), his connections were determined to give the colt another try around two turns following the Futurity debacle, and he rewarded them with a 5 1/4-length victory.
Sent to post at 7-1 odds in a field reduced to 10 with the scratch of King Ice, Two Phil’s and Loveberry rated kindly in fourth off a three-way duel among Top Recruit, Boppy O, and 2-1 favorite Jace's Road. Over a drenched and sloppy main track, Top Recruit narrowly led through splits of :23.93 and :48.21. It was past the half-mile marker when the tracking Two Phil’s sprang into action.
“About the half-mile pole I thought, 'OK, he’s liking the mud and I’m in good position. I just want to keep him clear,' ” Loveberry said. “I tilted him out just a little bit and he showed me everything.”
Two Phil’s ran on strongly to the wire, showing slight greenness when swapping to his left lead in deep stretch. The chestnut stopped the clock in 1:47.31 for 1 1/16 miles and returned $17.24 to win.
Behind him were 27-1 longshot Hayes Strike and the well-bred Fliparino, both of whom faced troubled starts, with Fliparino performing a nose dive into the mud. Both recovered nicely to close for second and third.
Owned in partnership by Patricia’s Hope and his breeder, Phillip Sagan, Two Phil’s increased his earnings to $195,450 with his first graded stakes win. The Street Sense also marked the first graded stakes win for Loveberry.
Hoosier Philly Makes it Look Easy in Rags to Riches
Enduring the slop of the main track at rainy Churchill Downs was Hoosier Philly, who swept the field in the $200,000 Rags to Riches Stakes to improve to 2-for-2 for trainer Tom Amoss.
The 2-year-old daughter of Into Mischief broke cleanly and ran along the rail, staying in third in :24.08 and :48.38 while Peacock Lass and T Max showed the way.
Into the final turn, Hoosier Philly, under Edgar Morales, easily passed the frontrunners and drew away. There was no catching the speedy filly owned by Gold Standard Racing Stable, who continued to open up until crossing the wire 7 1/2 lengths ahead in 1:46.90 to win the 1 1/16-mile event for 2-year-old fillies.
Hoosier Philly ($4.08) increased her earnings to $190,140.
T Max was second, and Fun and Feisty got up for third.
Bred by Candy Meadows in Kentucky, the filly was a $510,000 purchase by Lauren Carlisle, agent from the Candy Meadows Sales consignment to the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Hoosier Philly is out of the Tapit mare Tapella, who also has a yearling Mastery filly and a 2022 Justify colt. The mare was bred back to Munnings for 2023.
Video: Rags to Riches S. (BT)
Video: Street Sense S. (G3)
