Street Band Builds on Success of Stallion Istan
Gr.1 Cotillion Stakes Gr.1 was the first victory at the highest level for Street Band, who is a homebred for her owners Larry Jones (who also trains her), Cindy Jones, and Ray Francis.
Her pedigree reflects some thoughtful inbreeding and linebreeding over the generations. Her story starts with the purchase of the winning 3yo Paul Mellon-bred filly Memory's Gold, who was purchased by the Devonia Stud of Brian Mills for 48,000 guineas (US$78,977) at the 1994 Newmarket December Sales. Memory's Gold began her career with a visit to Bluebird, a mating that was envisaged even before her purchase.
The resultant foal, a filly to be named Ronda, was consigned to the 1997 Tattersalls October Newmarket Yearling Sales, where she was purchased by another keen pedigree student, Dario Hinajosa, for 30,000gns ($51,093). A now-retired Spanish businessman who maintains a small farm in Normandy, Hinajosa has been remarkably successful over the years, known in the U.S. for a number of horses he has bred and/or raced, among them grade 1 winners Bribon and Chinchon, and graded scorers Pharatta and Andujar.
The first choice of mate for Ronda, Gone West, was already successful with Storm Bird line mares, Gone West was out of Secrettame, a daughter of Secretariat out of mare by Tim Tam.
From that mating Ronda produced Istan, who showed useful form at six and seven furlongs racing for Hinajosa in France.
From 137 starters, Istan has been represented to date by nine stakes winners. In addition to Street Band, they include graded scorers Istanford, Mr. Bowling, Albano, and Turkish.
Street Band showed only modest form in five starts at 2, her sole victory coming in an Ellis Park maiden. She took a Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots allowance on her first start this term, then after a fourth in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, gained her first black-type success in the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. Unplaced in the Longines Kentucky Oaks Gr.1, the chestnut rebounded with a decisive Indiana Oaks triumph before a third in the Alabama Stakes Gr.1.
Curated From Bloodhorse.com