Street Sense Roars From 19th to Capture Derby
Horse First 2-Year-Old to Win at Churchill Since 1979
By BETH HARRIS
AP
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 5) - A mile into the Kentucky Derby, all the other horses were motoring along in fourth gear when Street Sense kicked it into fifth. Then he zeroed in on his last challenger, Hard Spun, went wide, and burned up the final quarter-mile like a dragster.
"After that," jockey Calvin Borel said, "it was just a matter of how far he'd win."
Street Sense showed plenty of that Saturday by smartly picking his way through traffic, roaring from next-to-last in a 20-horse field to win by 2 lengths. His final move was so powerful, it looked as though he might knock rival Any Given Saturday into the grandstand.
"Street Sense came blowing through there and it was like a big old wave," jockey Garrett Gomez said. "He knocked my horse out from under me and knocked him off his feet again.
"But that's the Kentucky Derby."
The dark bay colt was so commanding that he broke two Derby jinxes and put a couple of guys in the winner's circle late in their careers.
"I can't believe it. I can't believe it. This is the toughest race in the world to win," trainer Carl Nafzger said.
While it was the 65-year-old Nafzger's second Derby win in three tries, trainer Todd Pletcher, who had a record-tying five horses, was skunked again. He is now 0-for-19 in the Derby. Hard Spun finished second and Curlin, the 5-1 second choice, lost for the first time in his four-race career
Imawildandcrazyguy was another half-length back in fourth and Sedgefield was fifth. Circular Quay, coming off an eight-week layoff, was sixth for Pletcher's best finish.
2007-05-05 21:10:19 · 8 answers · asked by marnefirstinfantry 5 in Sports ➔ Horse Racing
both street sense and hard spun came out of the derby ok.
They both ate well the next morning which is a very good sign.
Pimlico racecourse has a little tighter turns and with the little shorter distance hard spun stands a good chance to turn the tables. I will box them both right back for the preakness.
But I will be rooting for street sense.
2007-05-07 13:45:44 · answer #1 · answered by lonnie s 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One could argue that Hard spun ran a better race in the Derby than Street Sense. While Street Sense sat at the back of the pack, watching everyone else run themselves into the ground, Hard Spun was fending off the challenges of anyone who wanted to take a run at him. If even one or two of the horses who got off of the rail for Street Sense had stayed down there probably you would be talking about a different horse right now. But thats the luck of horse racing, especially a race with 20 horses in it. I really dont think Street Sense will win the Triple Crown, but you never know. I guess the next ten days will tell us something.
2007-05-10 06:06:40 · answer #2 · answered by AngusAssassin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it would appear his last prep where he ran second set him up perfectly for the derby, so much for the 2 yr old champion jinx ...aside a little drifting in at the 1/8th pole it was a smashing race that could have been clocked faster had it not been for the jockey standing before the finish... looking at the competition and the way he won the race, if he should move forward off that race he might have a good shot to win one more or perhaps both remaining triple crown races... If successful I doubt that we will see this horse run as a 4 year old...the syndicated shares will be flying out the window on this guy...
2007-05-05 23:23:27 · answer #3 · answered by doingitright44 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure which race he will win, but one thing is for sure, he has not shown me anything special that will win him the Triple Crown. I'm not quite impressed with Street Sense and wasn't surprised to see him win the Derby because he is at the top of him game at Churchill and I don't think he can get the Belmont but the Preakness is still a possibility!
2007-05-06 13:11:24 · answer #4 · answered by horsesinky 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Racing fans have been waiting a long time for a triple crown
winner. Hope that this one's for real. It depends upon how much
gas he still has left in the tank, the Preakness is only a couple of weeks away. Sometimes a new , well rested entry dominates the next two legs of the series.
2007-05-06 02:09:27 · answer #5 · answered by ursaitaliano70 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was impressed with Street Sense's win, however the Triple Crown has been very elusive the last 29 years. I would love to see him win it for the simple fact that I love his trainer. I still get teary eyed when I see the replays of Carl calling the race to Mrs. Genter.
2007-05-05 21:38:17 · answer #6 · answered by taylormadepaints 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am very impressed with "Street Sense"!! I hope he can win the Triple Crown if he is raced in the two to come.He was amazing!!
2007-05-06 07:34:33 · answer #7 · answered by ponygirl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm ready for streetsense&Hardspun one more time.......
2007-05-06 08:38:34 · answer #8 · answered by dikhead 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋