Never Explain shines in G3 Tampa Bay Stakes

Son of Street Sense now a two-time Graded Stakes winner
Never Explain winning the 2023 G3 Dinner Party Stakes

Never Explain continued the banner weekend for his sire, Street Sense, when he split rivals in deep stretch and went on to win the $175,000 G3 Tampa Bay Stakes by a half-length on Saturday, 3 February.

Never Explain became the second Graded Stakes winner of the weekend for his sire, along with the filly, Comparative, who captured the G3 Bayakoa Stakes on Friday at Oaklawn Park.

Making his first start of the season, Never Explain broke alertly and was settled in mid-pack by jockey Vincent Cheminaud as Winfromwithin and Candidate led the field through the first half-mile. Never Explain began making up ground on the far turn, then drew alongside the longtime leaders as they entered the homestretch. 

Never Explain outbattled both Winfromwithin and Candidate through the stretch, then turned back the late bid of Running Bee to win post a half-length victory.

Bred in Kentucky by Hidden Brook Farm and Godolphin, Never Explain is out of the Stakes-placed Forestry mare, Black Oak. His second dam is Stakes winner More For Me (More Than Ready), who has also produced multiple Stakes winner, Bishop’s Pond.

Street Sense has already sired two Graded Stakes winners in 2024 – Never Explain and Comparative, who added the G3 Bayakoa Stakes to her earlier victory in the Ladies Stakes. In 2023, Street Sense was represented by Graded Stakes winners Whelen Springs (G3 Philip H. Iselin) and First Mission (G3 Lexington Stakes); along with additional Stakes winners Otto the Conqueror, Road Bloc, Baytown Chatterbox, Ichiban and Notary.

Street Sense will stand the 2024 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $60,000, stands and nurses.