Evan and Steven Ferraro’s Liberal Arts, enjoying the added distance and sloppy conditions, raced to the lead in the final furlong to win the GIII Street Sense S. by 2 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs on Sunday. The gray colt trailed the strung-out field as Gettysburg Address (Constitution) jumped to an undisputed lead through fractions of :23.73 and :47.93. The field began to build up toward the far turn, but Liberal Arts was still last at the top of the lane. Informed Patriot was first to overtake the pacesetter with three-sixteenths of a mile to run, but Liberal Arts was thrown into the center of the track and led with authority to win. Favorite Moonlight closed for a second.
“This horse has really improved as the distances have gotten longer,” said winning rider Cristian Torres. “Turning home today, I just had a ton of horse under me and I think he really appreciated that he went two turns. I made him relax from the back and he won like a pro today.”
Liberal Arts, a 10-point winner in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, gave trainer Robert Medina his first graded win.
“We knew we weren’t going to be able to do longer distances until the fall, so we made sure this horse had some experience under his belt, but we knew he would appreciate the stretch,” Medina said. “I think going two turns today was the key. He has made five starts this year and in conversation with the ownership group the plan now is to leave him until next year and name some of the big 3-year-old races.”
On the board while sprinting in his first two starts, Liberal Arts finished by seven furlongs at Ellis Park on August 13. He tried two turns for the first time Sunday after a third-place effort in the one-mile GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs Sept. 16.
Pedigree Notes:
Bred and sired by Steven Ferraro, dam of the winner, Ismene was a two-time winner in California in 2011 and competed in the GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint in 2013. The mare sold to Mike Abraham for $65,000 at last year’s sale of Fasig-Tipton in February.
Liberal Arts is the ninth graded winner for his late sire Arrogate, whose son Arcangelo is expected to be the favorite for Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Sunday, Churchill Downs
STREET SENSE S.-GIII$199,000, Churchill Downs, 10-29, 2 yrs, 1 1/16m, 1:46.50, sy.
1–LIBERAL ARTS, 122, c, 2, by Arrogate
1st dam: Ismene (MSW, $236,990), by Tribal Rule
2nd Dam: Never to Excess, by In Excess (Ire)
3rd Dam: Margaret Booth, by Well Decorated
1ST WIN FROM BLACK TYPE, WIN FROM 1ST DEGREE BET. B-Steven Ferraro and Evan Ferraro (Kentucky); T-Robert Medina; J-Christian A. Torres. $123,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-2, $226,825. *1/2 Nardini (Acclamation), MSP, $205,866; 1/2 to Ismelucky (Lucky Pulpit), SW, $167,062. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for eNicks report and pedigree of 5 crosses. Click for free Equineline.com Catalog Style Pedigree.
2–Moonlight122, c, 2, Audible–Sundown, by Tapit. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST CLASSIFIED BLACK TYPE. ($235,000 RNA Ylg ’22 FTSAUG; $170,000 Ylg ’22 FTKOCT; $285,000 2yo ’23 OBSAPR). O-Town and Country Racing, LLC and Madaket Stables LLC; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (Kentucky); T-Todd Pletcher. 40,000 dollars.
3–An informed patriot122, c, 2, Hard Spun–Yawkey Way, by Grand Slam. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST CLASSIFIED BLACK TYPE.. . ($90,000 extra ’22 KEESEP). OV. Kirk Robison and Judy Robison; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd & Whisper Hill Farm (Kentucky); T-Stephen M. Asmussen. $20.0
Pitches: 2 3/4, 1, 3HF. Odds: 6.09, 1.24, 5.32.
Also Ran: Gettysburg Address, Northern Flame. Scratched: Barksdale, Generous Tipper, Parchment Party.
Click for Equibase.com chart and on TJCIS.com PP. VIDEO sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#6 OTTO THE CONQUEROR ($7.68) took command shortly after the break and added to his gain down the lane to earn a 9th at Churchill Downs.
2yo from @DarleyAmericaStreet Sense was run by @Tyler_Gaff for coach Steve Asmussen and @Three_Chimneys. pic.twitter.com/b5Fb48XXFA
— TVG (@TVG) October 29, 2023