The impact of Street Sense, the champion juvenile and Kentucky Derby winner, on Darley America’s stallion roster over nearly 20 years is undeniable. Retired in 2008 to a Lexington, Kentucky farm, shortly after his 2007 Kentucky Derby victory and his title as Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champion as a 2-year-old, Street Sense joined a notable Darley stallion group that included Derby runner-up Hardspun and Grade 1 winners Any Given Saturday and Discrete Cat. Ultimately, Street Sense became the leading figure of this group, siring 13 Grade/Group 1 winners, many who competed under the Godolphin Blue banner.
With the flagship stallion Medaglia d’Oro set to retire at the end of 2025, Street Sense will step into a senior role alongside Hardspun at Darley’s Jonabell Farm. Meanwhile, Darley America and Street Sense himself will introduce three sons to the breeding program in 2026. Street Sense commands a public stud fee of $40,000; Grade 1 winner Maxfield is offered at $50,000; new Grade 1 winner Speaker’s Corner is priced at $10,000; and multiple Grade 2 winner First Mission also stands at $10,000.
While these four stallions share common pedigree roots, each offers distinct traits to serve various breeder preferences—whether in bloodline, physical attributes, or budget. Darren Fox of Darley America explains these differences.
Question: If budget is no constraint and I want to breed a mare into the Street Sense lineage, how should I evaluate these stallions?
Darren Fox, Darley America: Street Sense himself is a proven sire with 13 Grade 1 winners. He offers confidence, especially for first-time mares, by consistently producing quality runners who perform well on both the racetrack and in sales rings. He showed stamina with two-turn successes on main tracks, setting his reputation as a respected stallion.
Maxfield represents a true physical specimen—big, athletic, and poised with an excellent temperament. His first crop has been impressive, selling over five million dollars in aged horses. Nine furlongs suited him perfectly, and we anticipate growth in his offspring quality as more foals mature. Maxfield currently has tremendous potential.
Speaker’s Corner is a unique, slightly smaller, speedier type with consistent results. Notably, his 114 Beyer speed figure in the G1 Carter Handicap highlights him as Street Sense’s fastest son. We expect his progeny to make waves in upcoming sales and races, especially in speed-focused markets like Ocala.
First Mission, meanwhile, aligns more closely with Maxfield’s aptitude but is more moderately sized. He’s another stunning son of Street Sense with impressive performances—posting Beyer figures of 109 in the Oaklawn Handicap and 106 in the Al Sheikh. Physically appealing with excellent movement, First Mission also distinguishes himself by not being closely related to AP Indy, offering breeders broader pedigree diversity and cleaner crosses. At $10,000, he’s emerging as a potential commercial star, poised to replicate Street Sense’s success in producing quality runners.
Question: Both Maxfield and Speaker’s Corner are sons of Bernardini, himself a son of AP Indy. Beyond price, how do you distinguish between these two?
Fox: As mentioned, Maxfield is an absolute standout physically. Speaker’s Corner, while different, is a very competent horse. Physically, Speaker’s Corner resembles Nyquist in size and shape—around 16.1½ hands—which allows compatibility with a broad range of mares. Bernardini seems to impart a strong physical presence and, given his broodmare sire success, adds value to his offspring as sires themselves. Having Bernardini in a stallion’s pedigree is a significant asset going forward.
Question: Regarding Street Sense himself, what physical and pedigree matches have yielded the best quality runners?
Fox: Bernardini tops the list. Street Sense is a very adaptable stallion physically and genetically, except when breeding to mares sired by Street Cry, Street Sense’s sire. Street Sense brings strength from Mr. Prospector and is large and well-balanced at 16.3 hands, making him compatible with a wide variety of mares. From a stallion manager’s perspective, this versatility is invaluable. He consistently produces horses that excel over classic distances on main tracks, matching what the market desires.
The influence Street Sense has had on our farm is significant. Historically, breeding 8-10 mares per year, his success has encouraged us to increase that number recently. We anticipate even more outstanding progeny from him in the future.
This article was first published in The Paulick Report on February 8, 2026.
Fan Take: For horse racing enthusiasts, the continued evolution of Street Sense’s legacy through his sons offers an exciting glimpse into the future of American breeding. The blend of proven performance and diverse stallion options promises to keep the sport competitive and vibrant for years to come.
