Patrick Street

The real key to understanding Patrick Street lies in the ground beneath his hooves. On soft or muddy conditions, he transforms into an entirely different proposition. He has won 2 of his 7 races on such ground—a win rate of roughly 1 in 3.5—which is almost three times better than his overall record. This is not coincidence. Many horses hate the squelch and give ground in the wet; Patrick Street thrives in it. He also has a distance sweet spot. Over 1 mile 3 furlongs to 1 mile 4 furlongs, he has won 3 of 12 races (25%), another sharp improvement on his average. Put soft ground and that distance together, and you have the recipe for his rare victories.

Kearney, who rides him most often, has partnered him once for a win from 13 races together, which matches the horse's overall win rate almost exactly. That suggests no particular magic between rider and horse, just steady work. In his last six races, Patrick Street has not recorded a win, though he did finish third at his most recent outing. On the evidence of a very long career, he is a horse who rewards patience and the right conditions—the kind that shows up for a particular race, does his job adequately, and asks to be back again next week.