Kentucky Derby is All Horse Sense
Calvin Bor-Rail-el's Fence Ride, Nafzger's Prep, Get No. 1 Home
Street Sense responds perfectly to his jockey's masterful guidance. Rail trips are Borel's forte. Nafzger's two-race strategy turns golden as his No. 1 bay wins Derby.
Veteran rider Calvin Borel knew what he wanted to do. Trainer Carl Nafzger had let his horse be his preparatory guide. Street Sense brought home the bacon as the perfect student.
It all made enough good sense to gain a Kentucky Derby victory. For Nafzger, it was number two. He won in 1990 with Unbridled.
Shortly out of the seventh spot in the gate, in nineteenth position in the 133rd $2.2 million Kentucky Derby May 5, Borel moved his mount to the left just in front of Imawildandcrazyguy toward the rail. From there, he rated the studious Street Sense behind the pack of 18 more rivals with the rail handily accessible all the way.
It appeared that none of the previously touted three-year-olds had a game plan to run through a huge field. Only Street Sense made a significant early move and maintained stellar positioning to give himself a chance in the 1-1/4 miles trip. Borel's masterful tour led the strong bay under him to the rail, along the rail, and off the rail, splitting between it and Sedgefield to challenge the front runner, Hard Spun.
Larry Jones, trainer of Hard Spun, was thrilled with his charge's huge effort. Running immediately to the front, Hard Spun controlled the race until Street Sense's mighty bounce off the rail. Mario Pino, aboard Hard Spun, showed his horse still had reserves as he increased his gallop toward the wire.
Hard Spun finished second by 5-3/4 lengths over the game but horse-boggled Curlin, who was beaten for the first time in four posts. Curlin seemed mentally pinned by the shear number of rivals bumping around him.
Street Sense, however, relaxed and equal to the Derby task, knew his way around Churchill Downs, having won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile championship there by over 10 lengths last fall. In kicking free of every competitor yesterday to draw off by 2-1/4 lengths, Street Sense became the first two-year-old champ to win the Kentucky Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979.
From a blimp's view, Street Sense looked like a possessed hound charging after the rabbit as he raced at the rail to pick off fourteen rivals pack by pack and approach the front runners. With power as smooth as a Porsche, Street Sense followed Borel's hand through the final opening one wide from the fence and shot like a rocket to the right of leader Hard Spun...and was gone.
Borel was high in the saddle before his powerful bay cruised under the wire, knowing victory was theirs. It was a large moment for the popular Borel. He celebrated his first Derby win all the way back to the winner's circle, pumping one finger emphatically downward at Street Sense.
If on one is yet ready to call Street Sense a great champion, no one can deny his track smarts and horse sense. He executed his jockey's ploy to perfection.
