Savvy Street gains photo win of Miracle Wood Stakes

Laurel, MD (SportsNetwork.com) – Second choice Savvy Street dug in nearing the finish to win the President’s Day featured $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park.

Trained by Donald Barr and ridden by Forest Boyce, Savvy Street went off as the 3-1 second pick in the six-horse field of 3-year-olds going a mile. Golden Years, winner of last year’s Marylander and Maryland Million Nursery Stakes, was the 4-5 favorite.

Setting most of the pace was 11-1 longshot Bodhisattva, ridden by J. D. Acosta. Pressing the leader was Golden Years and Savvy Street. Trailing the field was 9-2 third choice Combat Diver.

Around the far turn 17-1 longshot Governmentshutdown drew even with the leader from the outside, but Golden Years and jockey Victor Carrasco moved to the front coming off the final turn. Making a big move from last on the outside was Combat Diver and jockey Sheldon Russell.

It was a four-way battle down the stretch between Golden Years, Savvy Street, Bodhisattva and Combat Diver. The four 3-year-olds hit the wire together with the winner to be determined by a photo.

Savvy Street, owned by Barbara Houck, was the winner by a nose over Combat Diver. Golden Years was a neck back in third with Bodhisattva fourth. Measured and Governmentshutdown completed the order of finish.

“He really dug in that last bit with the 1 horse (Combat Diver) on the outside of us,” winning jockey Boyce said. “I’m not sure he’s 100 percent mature yet.”

The time for the Miracle Wood was 1:40.36 on a fast track.

Morning line favorite Nasa and On Tap were early scratches.

Savvy Street, sired by 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, earned his first stakes win and pocketed $60,000. The gray colt has won half of his six career starts for $118,610.

“He seems to run very good here” winning trainer Barr noted. “I’m definitely going two turns, his next out will be around two turns.”

Savvy Street broke his maiden his second time starting at Laurel, but finished fifth last November in a 6 1/2-furlong stakes at Parx Racing with Boyce riding him the first time. The colt came back to finish second at Laurel in December and on Jan. 9 began the year with a four-length win at his preferred track. Boyce is the only jockey to have two rides aboard Savvy Street.

Savvy Street returned $8.00, $4.40 and $2.20. Combat Diver paid $4.60 and $2.80, and Golden Years paid $2.10 to show.

Categorized in: Horses