Derby Matchup after Blue Grass?
More Street Sense scheduled for Any Given Saturday in April
Something's gotta give in April when Street Sense and Any Given Saturday duel again at Keeneland. Top rated Great Hunter will also be in the Derby prep Blue Grass.
A titantic duel to the wire mesmerized an enthusiastic Florida crowd at Tampa Bay Downs on March 17. Street Sense, gathering more miles of sense as he goes along, and the ultimately pedigreed Any Given Saturday rushed through the stretch in a heart-stopping finish that resulted in Street Sense's nose victory in the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. 1).
Track Record Achieved
Street Sense's trip set a track record for the 1-1/16 miles at 1:43.11. The James B. Tafel owned colt completed his first race since winning the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. l) by a convincing ten lengths last November 4 at Churchill Downs.
No Breeders' Cup juvenile champion has ever won the Kentucky Derby. Street Sense established himself as a contender to end that drought. Earnings for the Tafel three-year-old shot to $1,358,200 in winning his first start in 2007. In six total posts, the Bedazzle out of Dixieland Band colt has won three times. His victory last Saturday followed a 133-day rest stop.
Trainer Carl Nafzger said he got the type of race he wanted from Street Sense. The Juvenile champ is headed next to the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. l) April 14 for a 1-1/8 miles test before his Run for the Roses in Kentucky.
Rider says Street Sense has Plenty
Jockey Calvin Borel sent Street Sense sensibly to an inviting rail opening after the turn, while Any Given Saturday navigated three wide around traffic under jockey John Velazquez. The difference through the turn made the difference in the race as the two colts thundered to the wire. Any Given Saturday gamely responded in the final furlongs, but Street Sense had enough ground advantage to triumph.
Borel claimed Street Sense easily had another 20 lengths of run in him at the end. He'll no doubt be reminded of those words on April 14 when Street Sense faces Any Given Saturday again. Any Given Saturday has been pointed to the Blue Grass since the beginning of the season. Nafzger didn't seem as confident as his jockey. The trainer made no apologies in wishing Any Given Saturday was headed elsewhere.
Great Hunter ranks High
The drama will heighten even more in the Blue Grass. Great Hunter, winner of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. ll) March 3 at Santa Anita and tops on some February rankings, is also entered in the Blue Grass. Great Hunter has ranked in this season's top five Derby contenders.
Titantic could become colossal. Great Hunter defeated Street Sense and highly ranked Circular Quay in the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky last year.
Elliott Walden, vice president and racing manager for WinStar Farms, called Street Sense a formidable foe and relishes a rematch in April. WinStarco-owns Any Given Saturday with Padua Stables.
Curlin, also a Padua co-owned runner, heads to Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. ll) off a stunning 5-1/4 length victory in the 1-1/16 mile Rebel Stakes (gr. lll)March 17 at Oaklawn in his second career start.
Merv Griffin's Cobalt Blue in Hunt
Another three-year-old colt trying to make the Derby grade is Merv Griffin's Cobalt Blue. With Jockey Victor Espinoza handling the colt's reins for the first time, Cobalt Blue won the March 17 San Felipe Stakes (gr. ll) at Santa Anita. Doug O'Neill trains Great Hunter and Cobalt Blue, as well as the six-year-old gelding great, Lava Man, who is flying to the Dubai World Cup races slated for March 31.
The Ilinois Derby (gr. ll) will see Curlin on April 7. Curlin's trainer is Steve Asmussen. His current jockey is Robby Albarado.
Hold onto your horsehat, or go buy one to keep cool. The best Derby prep heat is yet to boil.
