By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
In an interesting end at Churchill Downs, Street Sense surged beyond Hard Spun inside the final stretch to win the 133rd going for walks of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 5, 2007. Trained by Carl Nafzger and ridden via jockey Calvin Borel, Street Sense become the early favorite to win the Derby, however, faced stiff opposition from talented contenders.
The horse’s preceding successes, together with a win on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2006, had made him a famous pick out amongst racing enthusiasts.
As the race began, Hard Spun took the early lead and set a quick pace, with Street Sense and different horses intently following behind. As they approached the very last stretch, Hard Spun was regarded to have the race in hand, but Street Sense started out to make his move.
With a burst of pace, Street Sense pulled beforehand of Hard Spun and crossed the end line in 2 minutes, 2.17 seconds, a report-breaking time for a wet track. Hard Spun completed 2nd, even as Curlin, an other pre-race favorite, got the third spot.
The victory was a sweet one for Nafzger, who had formerly won the Kentucky Derby in 1990 with Unbridled. Nafzger, who had educated Street Sense on the grounds that he changed into a foal, praised the horse’s tenacity and endurance.
“He’s been given a heart as large as all outside,” Nafzger said after the race. “It’s a joy and a privilege to be around a horse like him.”
For Borel, who had gained his first Kentucky Derby, the victory became an emotional one.
“I dreamed approximately this my complete existence,” he said. “I’m simply blessed to be a part of it.”
Street Sense’s win turned into something special; breaking a 132-year-old “Curse of Apollo,” which had avoided any horse from triumphing the Kentucky Derby without having raced as a two-year-antique due to the fact Apollo did so in 1882.
For enthusiasts of the sport, the 2007 Kentucky Derby might be remembered as an interesting and historical race that showcased the exceptional of thoroughbred racing.
