Street Sense, ridden by Calvin Borel and trained by Carl Nafzger, won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, capturing the first leg of US horse racing's Triple Crown.
Street Sense surged past Hard Spun in the final straight to win the 133rd running of the one-and-a-quarter-mile race, which was attended by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.
Rallying from far back, Street Sense became the first colt to win the Kentucky Derby after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He also became the first two-year-old champion from the previous season to win the race since Spectacular Bid in 1979.
PHOTO: EPA
Hard Spun held on for second, followed by Curlin.
The victory put 65-year-old trainer Nafzger back in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs. Nafzger trained Unbridled, who won the Run for the Roses in 1990.
"We have a good horse, he took us every place we've been and he took us there every day," Nafzger said of Street Sense, who is owned by James Tafel.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddled five starters in his bid to finally break through for his first Triple Crown race victory, instead fell to 0-15 in the Kentucky Derby.
Circular Quay, who finished sixth, was the best of Pletcher's entries. Any Given Saturday was eighth, Sam P. ninth, Scat Daddy 18th and Cowtown Cat was last.
"I am disappointed that the horses didn't run better," said Pletcher, a three-time Eclipse Award winner who has won more than US$121 million in his career. "It isn't the end of the world if you don't win the Kentucky Derby. I'm not going to go home tonight and cry. That's just not the way."
The prestigious trio of races continues with the Preakness Stakes in Maryland and concludes with the Belmont Stakes in New York.
Borel gave Street Sense a beautiful ride, bringing his mount up from 19th -- next-to-last in the 20-horse field -- midway through the race.
He zoomed past Hard Spun en route to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in 2:02.17 that immediately established him as the favorite for the Preakness in two weeks.
"He is the best three-year-old I've ever been on in my life," Borel said. "He's very push-button. He will put you in a spot you want to be and then relax. I don't know how good he is."
Hard Spun, ridden by Mario Pino and trained by Larry Jones, set the pace for the first three quarters.
Borel, known for his ability to save ground while moving through a field, began picking off horses, moving Street Sense into perfect position around the final turn.
Once Borel moved him off the rail, Street Sense thundered home.
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