2011 Kentucky Derby: Street Storm Will Run In The Kentucky Oaks

Added on May 04, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

Horse Racing

Presumptive favorite R Heat Lightning was forced to withdraw from Friday’s Kentucky Oaks due to a possible knee injury which opened up a spot in the field for another entrant. That opened the door for the Steve Margolis trained Street Storm to be included in the field for the marquee race for three year old fillies.

The decision wasn’t quite the ‘no brainer’ that it seems–Margolis and Dan Glick–who heads up the Right Time Racing partnership that owns the filly–had to work out some ‘strategery’ first. They had the option of entering Street Storm in a less competitive but far lucrative race in which she would likely be a favorite or going for the ‘brass ring’ and the $1,000,000 purse of the second biggest race of the weekend behind Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Option 1 was the $100,000 Edgewood at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn turf course at Churchill Downs earlier in the Oaks card. Ultimately, they decided to ‘swing for the fences’ and entered Street Storm in the Kentucky Oaks.

Glick said that Street Storm’s steady improvement in form obviated entering her in the more competitive and potentially lucrative event:

“We are going to give it a shot and go for it. She is improving by the day and you don’t get this opportunity very often.”

Right Time Racing also owns Bouquet Booth who is more of a ‘proven commodity’ but Glick stressed that Street Storm also has unlimited upside potential:

“When (trainer) Todd Pletcher’s filly went out, we had to take a look at the race again. We’re going to take a shot. I feel this filly has a lot of potential.”

Asked which horse he’d back if he was down to his last $2.00, Glick gave a diplomatic response:

“I honestly don’t know. Obviously Bouquet Booth is a proven commodity and has competed against Kathmanblu and Lilacs and Lace. She jumped a shadow in the Ashland and in the Rachel Alexandra (at Fair Grounds in February), she was rank. If she can relax, I think she will be a factor.”

“They have both trained wonderfully and they are two different types of horses. I’d take the $2 and do a dollar exacta box.”

Bouquet Booth will start from the #8 hole with Street Storm starting in the #10 position. Bouquet Booth was installed as a 20-1 betting choice on the morning line with Street Storm priced at 50-1.