by Mike Curry

Street Hero went from maiden to Grade 1 winner with a determined rally in the stretch to win the $250,000 Norfolk Stakes (G1) on Sunday at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

The Street Cry (Ire) colt finished on the board in each of his first four starts but entered the 1 1/16-mile race for two-year-olds without a victory to his credit. That changed in the final furlong of the Norfolk, in which he outfinished three opponents in the closing strides to prevail by three-quarters of a length under jockey Alex Solis.

Trained, owned, and bred by Myung Kwon Cho, Street Hero earned an automatic starting spot in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) with the win in the Norfolk, which is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile will be contested at the same distance on October 25 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.

“I can hardly talk, I’m so excited,” Cho said. “I’m really happy today. This is the best day of my life. Down the stretch, my heart was pumping. This is my biggest win, and I’ve been training around 17 years.”

Del Conte set an uncontested pace through a half-mile in :47.02 as Street Hero stalked from third then fourth. Street Hero accelerated on the far turn but was forced to wait behind traffic entering the stretch. He split horses willingly when an opening developed and gradually put away three challengers to prevail in 1:42.12 on the Pro-Ride surface.

“I was in a tough position from the five-sixteenths [pole] to the top of the stretch,” Solis said. “Finally, I had enough horse to get out. He’s still a little green. He’s still learning.”

Runner-up Midshipman closed from sixth and edged third-place finisher Believe in Hope by a nose. Believe in Hope edged Del Conte by a nose in a three-way photo finish for second and third. Previously unbeaten multiple graded stakes winner Azul Leon rallied from last to finish sixth.

Street Hero entered off a third-place finish on September 3 in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), which was won by Midshipman. After the race, Solis recommended Cho try Street Hero with blinkers and the rider felt the move paid dividends in the Norfolk.

“I really liked him at Del Mar,” Solis said. “Right away, I noticed this horse could use blinkers and I told Mr. Cho. I told him, ‘We’re going to win the Norfolk.’ He was much better today and he’s just learning how to run.”

Street Hero has earned $206,360 with one wins, two seconds, and two third-place finishes in five career starts. He is out of Grade 3-placed winner Squall Linda, by Summer Squall.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor