It's 'Sensational' in Kentucky

By Tom Krish
May 07, 2007

It was a movie script. It was an encore performance. The drama that had taken place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November at Churchill Downs was being resurrected. Street Sense lay 19th on the inside in the 20-horse field after the first five furlongs in the 133rd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Then came the 'Charlton Heston moment.' Sixteen horses moved away from the fence as if telling Street Sense, "we are making way for you. Please go on." With four furlongs left, Street Sense, who is endowed with acceleration that has to be seen to be believed, was third. He was second turning for home as Hard Spun was trying to go start to finish. At the quarter pole, Calvin Borel, Street Sense's jockey, found himself in front. Hard Spun had drawn clear of the rest. Curlin, overcoming an unhappy trip, was making a valiant but futile bid.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II enjoying the action in Kentucky

Jockey Calvin Borel is flanked by trainer Carl Nafzger and owner-breeder Jim Tafel as they
hold aloft the Derby trophy

The others (17 of them) had fallen apart. Taking a shoulder glance or two, jockey Borel just had to sit on the saddle as Street Sense coasted to a 2 1/4 length victory. Hard Spun who had made the running was 5 3/4 lengths ahead of Curlin who took third. The time was 2.02.17 on a track that was upgraded to 'fast' from 'good' a race or two before the Derby.
Street Sense paid $11.80. He was the highest-paying favorite to win. A jinx was broken. Since 1984 when the Breeders' Cup races were instituted, no Juvenile winner (for two year-olds) had won the Run for the Roses. It was jockey Calvin Borel's first Derby win. He is 40. It was trainer Carl Nafzger's second Derby triumph. In 1990, his Unbridled won the Derby.

"I can retire now. I was very confident. Over and over again, I have said Street Sense is the fastest three year-old there is. He is going to take us to places," Carl Nafzger said.

Owner Jim Tafel exulted." It's especially sweet. I bred him."

"The easiest way to win races is taking the shortest way around. He (Street Sense) would have won no matter what. I knew he was ready after his work on the track early in the week. This is unbelievable. This is a great moment. I am grateful to Carl and Mr Tafel for letting me ride for them," Borel averred.

Street Sense is by Street Cry who is by Machiavellian, Bedazzle is Street Sense's mother and she is by Dixieland Band. Street Sense has now won four races from eight starts. His bankroll is about 2.7 million dollars. The Derby is his second win in a Grade I event.

Todd Pletcher had five horses. His best finisher was Circular Quay who took sixth. Scat Daddy was wide for the most part but was prominent. He stopped running with six furlongs left and retreated to finish 18th.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were in attendance. It was the first Derby visit fot the 80 year-old monarch. The attendance was 156,635. On the Derby, $118,317,714 was wagered. A total of $168,018,982 was bet on the 12-event Kentucky Derby day card.