Street Sense Captures Two Stakes
Derby Victor,Trainer Nafzger Set Records With Travers, Alabama Sweep
The threesome of thoroughbred Street Sense, jockey Calvin Borel, and trainer Carl Nafzger set two records in winning the Derby, the Travers and the Alabama Stakes.
Only ten thoroughbreds in history have swept the Kentucky Derby and the Travers Stakes in the same year. Street Sense became that 10th horse in late August.
Only two trainers in the last 31 years have polished off the Alabama Stakes (for fillies) and the Travers Stakes (for colts) in a single season. Carl Nafzger, Street Sense's trainer the last 16 months, became that second trainer.
Lady Joanne won the Alabama, and, of course, Street Sense took the Travers. Calvin Borel rode both winners. Nafzger schooled both victors.
Nafzger, Borel, and Street Sense have been this season's thoroughbred story. Borel's masterful work in the Kentucky Derby, steering Street Sense to victory through lanes that inexplicably opened for them, will remain as one of the all-time great rides.
Will Achilles Heel Knock Street Sense from the Breeders' Cup?
But Street Sense has an Achilles heel. When he gets the lead late in a race, both trainer and jockey agree, the champ "gets to messing around," as Borel describes it. He pricks his ears, and he begins to check out his surroundings instead of sticking to the task of putting the race away.
A sorrowful Borel first explained the tendency after his heart-wrenching loss to Curlin in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. Street Sense did the "messing around" then and lost his slight advantage to the charging Curlin.
Two Straight Wins Encouraging
In the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga, Street Sense stalked the leader, Grasshopper, from his third position until approaching the top of the stretch. The Kentucky Derby champ dueled Grasshopper until the latter gave in to the pressure. After Street Sense passed his final rival, he gave in a bit, Borel said, over the last 40 yards.
Borel had to remind his mount of the urgency to finish the deal. He cracked his whip left-handed, and Street Sense paid attention to the wire. In 2:02.69, a leisurely pace for the 1-1/4 miles, Street Sense closed business.
Three weeks before at Saratoga, in the $500,000 1-1/8 miles Jim Dandy Stakes, Borel guided his charge four wide at the stretch to chase down C P West after escaping the pack. With a target, Street Sense keeps plugging. He drew away to get the win by 1-1/2 lengths in time of 1:48.99.
Two straight wins after his Preakness Stakes loss were thrilling for Borel, who considers Street Sense, he says, to be a once-in-a-lifetime ride. The colorful jockey will need another great effort with his mount pitted against the likes of Lawyer Ron, Curlin, Any Given Saturday, and Hard Spun in the 24th renewal of the Breeders' Cup Classic on October 27th.
But then, nobody has Sense like Borel.
