Posted on
5/7/2007 6:32:51 PM
Kentucky Derby Winner Street Sense A Triple Crown Hopeful
By Robby Maddux
Street Sense won the 133rd Kentucky Derby under jockey Garrett Gomez in strong fashion, coming from next-to-last in a 20-horse field to win by 2 lengths. The dark bay colt began flexing his muscles a mile into the race and then ran down Hard Spun to get the victory.
Street Sense left the gate as the 9-2 favorite, running the race in 2:02.17, paying $11.80, $6.40 and $4.60 as the highest-priced winning favorite in Kentucky Derby history. Street Sense has finished in the money in all eight of his career races.
Street Sense became the first Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner to win on the first Saturday in May, snapping an 0-for-23 skid. He was also the first 2-year-old champion to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979, and the first colt to win with two or fewer prep races since Sunny's Halo in 1983.
With each Kentucky Derby winner comes a Triple Crown hopeful. Next up for Street Sense is the Preakness Stakes, followed by the Belmont. If he can win his next two races, he'll make history. The last horse to win all three legs of the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. Sir Barton was the first to do it back in 1919.
Only eleven horses have won the elusive Triple Crown. The grueling schedule of three races in five weeks at extended distances makes conquering the feat a monumental task.
Street Sense will be in Baltimore on May 19 for the second leg of the Triple Crown. Six times in the last 10 years the Derby winner has gone on to win the Preakness, setting up a Triple try.
In the Belmont Stakes, he'll go off as the favorite facing a much smaller field than in the Derby. He's already proven that he can rewrite the record books, now he'll attempt to be the next Triple Crown winner.
Odds may be stacked against him but the Sport of Kings will be rooting. His pedigree indicates he's got what it takes giving him a legitimate chance of making history.
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