Motor City Captures Iroquois

October 31, 2011

Posted by Jennie Rees - Louisville Courier Journal Horse Racing Blog October 30, 2011
My colleague J.J. Hysell’s story on Sunday’s Iroquois won by Motor City, a son of jockey Calvin Borel’s 2007 Derby winner Street Sense. Photos by Yetta Feltner.

Jockey Calvin Borel jubilantly exclaimed as he toured the winner’s circle with Motor City, winner of Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Iroquois Stakes on opening day at Churchill Downs.

“Just like daddy!” he shouted. 

Motor City is a 2-year-old son of Street Sense, the colt who gave Borel his first Kentucky Derby win in 2007. The gelding, owned by Lantern Hill Farm, is trained by Ian Wilkes, who was an assistant to Street Sense’s trainer, Carl Nafzger.

While Street Sense’s marquee win as a juvenile came on a much larger stage – in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Borel and Wilkes said Motor City reflects a lot of tendencies of his father.

“He’s got his same personality,” Borel said. “It took us a little bit longer to get him going, but we got him on the right track now. I think he’s got a lot of potential.”

Motor City, who is now 2 of 5 with earnings of $99,183, was shuffled back at the start and broke last. Seven Lively Sins and Julien Leparoux set the pace, ticking off fractions of :22.99 and :46.27. Fine, with Jamie Theriot, and Chalybeate Springs, guided by Jon Court, battled for second as they headed into the stretch.

In typical Borel fashion, Motor City came charging up the rail and overtook Seven Lively Sins in the stretch. The gelding won by 3/4ths-length and covered the mile in 1:37.18.

Mr. Bowling and Rajiv Maragh Mr. Bowling and Rajiv Maragh finished third in a field of seven. Motor City was the third betting choice and paid $8.20, 3.40 and 2.40.

Wilkes said one Street Sense early habit was particularly on display for Motor City – the inclination to stop when he’s ahead.

“He certainly was (like him) today, the way he wanted to pull up.” Wilkes said. “He made the lead and put his ears up and wanted to stop. He’s still learning this horse, he’s still getting it together, still figuring it out.”

After breaking his maiden at Ellis Park in his second start, Motor City raced twice on synthetics. He finished third in the Grade 3 Arlington Washington Futurity at Arlington Park on Sept. 10 and eighth in the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 8 – a race that included some adversity, as Wilkes said Motor City tore off part of a shoe.

 “We never got a chance to run,” Wilkes said. “It showed how good a horse he was. The way the shoe was, he shouldn’t have beat a horse. He got beat 9 lengths in the futurity. He worked good on this track and I was very confident with him today.”

Wilkes said the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill on Nov. 26 is the next possible start for Motor City.


Addtional Articles:

Brisnet:  Motor City the first Street 'Sense-ation' in Iroquois

The Republic:  Motor City overtakes Seven Lively Sins for Iroquois win at Churchill Downs

Bloodhorse:  Motor City Roars to Iroquois Victory

Thoroughbred Times: Like father, like son: Motor City rallies to win Iroquois