ESPN Horse Racing

Street Hero
Entry Alert: Saturday, July 26, Race 7 at Del Mar

The baby races are in full force on both coasts. My colleague, Jeremy Plonk, keeps a detailed blog of the Saratoga 2-year-olds at Horseplayerpro.com, while I've got my eye on the Del Mar runners every morning trackside. The seventh race at Del Mar on Saturday has a possible field of a dozen 2-year-olds lining up. But there is one runner in here that does not look like a 2-year-old, and that is STREET HERO.

This son of Street Cry is a big boy with a big stride. In his debut, he spotted the field a head start at the break and then made a sustained late run to get up for third behind Saturday's probable race favorite SPEIGHT THE HALO. The way STREET HERO has attacked his morning gallops after the debut race suggests he came out of his effort in great form. On July 20, he hooked up in company with an older stakes-placed Bob Baffert trainee by the name of Guns on the Table. 'HERO' more than held his own working. He concluded the swift 5-furlong clocking in full stride. STREET HERO is a colt who will continue to improve as the distances increase, and as he gains more racing experience. If he remains healthy, he will have a major say in the stakes races at the end of the meet. This is one talented runner from a low-profile barn. Keep your eye on STREET HERO the rest of the year.

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