2007 KENTUCKY DERBY

©2007 HORSEPHOTOS/NTRA

Street Sense is impressive in a last to first run to win the 133rd running of The Kentucky Derby.

STREET SENSE WINS THE 133RD KENTUCKY DERBY 

KENTUCKY DERBY OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAY 5, 2007

KENTUCKY DERBY

GRADE I

CHURCHILL DOWNS; LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS

ONE AND ONE QUARTER MILES

MAIN TRACK: FAST

STREET SENSE

Winner

133rd Kentucky Derby

Jockey: Calvin H. Borel

Trainer: Carl A. Nafzger

Owner: James Tafel, LLC

Dark Bay/Brown Colt

Sire: Street Cry (Ire)

Dam: Bedazzle (Dixieland Band)

Breeder: James Tafel (KY)

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH

Scratches: None

 22.96, 46.26, 1:11.13, 1:37.04, 2:02.17

Attendance: 156,635  Handle: $25,459,565

See below for complete Derby recap:

MAKING SENSE ON THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY

May 5, 2007

Churchill Downs

Louisville, Kentucky

Jinx, what jinx?  The Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Street Sense was up against history as no winner of said race has ever gone on to win the roses on the first Saturday in May.  As Street Sense would become that first Breeders' Cup/Derby winner his trainer, Carl Nafzger, would win his second derby and longtime hard knocking jockey Calvin Borel would make his first trip to the winners circle in the spring classic.  Not since 1979 and Spectacular Bid has the two-year-old champion won The Derby.

Street Sense would break well and take back as the field moved through some swift early fractions as Borel would move the colt to the rail after the break to save ground.  On the backside Street Sense was called by announcer Tom Durkin as 19th with only one horse beaten.  As the field moved through the far turn Borel guided Street Sense right up the fence as miraculously a hole had opened wide enough for Borel to get his mount clear after picking off runners one by one having passed all but two runners as the field came out of the far turn into the stretch.  In the lane Borel moved his colt into the three path and ran quickly to the leader, Hard Spun, devouring the lead and the leader moving clear at the wire to win the Kentucky Derby by two and one-quarter lengths.

The day was complimented by nice weather as the rains from the day before had dried up with the track labeled fast right before the seventh race.  Over 156,000 race fans were in attendance including Queen Elizabeth II from England.  Of other notables Street Sense became the highest priced post time favorite to win the derby paying $11.80.  Moving his record to four of eight lifetime and earning  $1,450,000 for his effort.  And while he blew out a hefty five furlong work (57.60) five days ago that set the entire backstretch abuzz, Hard Spun ran a very game second after being on the lead for a mile and an eighth of the one and one-quarter mile race.  Curlin ran a very good third, after only three starts, as he did not run during his two-year-old season.

The day was also remembered for last years winner Barbaro who recently succumbed to laminitis and was euthanized earlier this year after his remarkable battle with a broken leg after pulling up in last years Preakness Stakes.  NBC did a very good job covering the race again this year and was able to utilize the ever popular blimp camera which was able to highlight Calvin Borel's rail skimming ride which put him and Street Sense in the winners circle.

You can smell the crab cakes cooking as this traveling circus moves to Maryland for the second leg of the triple crown, which no one has be able to win since 1978 when Affirmed accomplished the feat.  Can Street Sense win the Preakness? Can Calvin Borel get Street Sense closer to the pace in the Preakness with its tight turns and all the hoopla that surrounds the rock start like status of a colt who wins the roses on the first Saturday in May?  We will have to wait and see but all signs are pointing to a colt that if he can get past the Preakness with all its nuances may have a big shot at the triple crown since he is bred for the mile and one-half distance of the Belmont Stakes.  Did I really just type that?  And while the story of last years Derby winner showed that nothing can be taken for granted I have a great respect for each leg of the triple crown and also respect the talent of this years Derby winner in making such a statement.  Carl Nafzger seems to know his colt very well and is savvy with the media and the distractions that seem to fester with having a colt on this trail. And the colt seems to be fresh and getting stronger with each start.  Jockey Borel will be the key component to making sure the colt is able to relax and run his race and if he can do it then possibly history can be made.  There seems to be a business like attitude with this colt and the way he wins creates a magic which I am not sure we have seen before.  There are no extenuating stories surrounding this years Derby winner.  The winning connections are just great horsemen and with their presence seems to bring a workman like feeling that makes me feel as if something special could be about to happen.  To be continued. All in all a very good day for racing.  See you in Baltimore.  By for now!

The Field was sent off to a good start on a track that was upgraded to fast before the seventh race.  Hard Spun would go to the lead while the trio of Stormello, Cowtown Cat and Teuflesberg would take turns putting pressure on the leader as he went :22⁴ for the opening quarter :46¹ for the half and three-quarters in 1:11.  Entering the far turn it looked as if Hard Spun might be getting away from the early chasers opening up by two lengths as the others were starting to back up.  Through the far turn Hard Spun opened up to three as Sedgefield was now running in second position with the field started to bunch with early late runner Street Sense finding it all his own way down on the fence picking off groups of opponents as the field was leaving the turn into the stretch.  In the lane Street Sense completed a sensational move moving off the fence and drawing up alongside Hard Spun on the lead and quickly left him behind drawing off to win The 133rd Kentucky Derby by two and one-quarter lengths on the wire in a final time of  2:02.  Hard Spun ran a gritty race after being passed in the stretch running a valiant second while Curlin after bobbling at the start managed third.  Street Sense is a dark bay/ brown, three-year-old colt owned by James Tafel, LLC, trained by Carl A. Nafzger and was ridden by Calvin Borel.