Street Wise enough to hold Grasshopper

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense had to shrug off the persistent Grasshopper to win the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

The two were locked in an epic duel in the straight with Street Sense finally showing his superiority in the final strides to win the Grade One by a half-a-length.

The first two drew 101/4-lengths clear of Helsinki in third.

“When you have a slower pace, it gives everyone a chance to run at you,” said trainer Carl Nafzger.

“Street Sense couldn’t goof around like he sometimes does. He nearly always will finish when he’s hooked up eyeball to eyeball, but when he gets up about a length in front he pricks his ears. Grasshopper didn’t give him a chance to prick his ears today,” he told www.bloodhorse.com.

Jockey Calvin Borel added: “The idea was to keep riding and keep Grasshopper as a target.

“If I’d hit (Street Sense) left-handed earlier, he’d have jumped away a lot further, but I waited and then when I hit him left-handed right quick he pulled away like I expected him to do.”

Hard Spun, runner-up to Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby, also got back on the winning trail in the King’s Bishop Stakes.

The Larry Jones-trained colt landed his first Grade One success when dropped down to seven furlongs.

Ridden by Mario Pino, Hard Spun also did not have it totally his own way as First Defence made a strong challenge until he drew away close home to win by a length and a half.

“It’s very important for his stallion career to have the grade 1 under him,” said Jones.

“This is a very important race for making stallions, and that was one reason we looked at it.”

Jones added the ultimate target remains the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth October 27.