Toughest test of all
BALTIMORE – Street Sense had just returned from his first gallop around Pimlico Race Course, and the Kentucky Derby winner was enjoying a sponge bath outside the Preakness stakes barn under the watchful eye of Carl Nafzger.
“Great. Perfect,” the trainer declared Friday as the dark bay colt was being led back to stall No. 40, the traditional home of the Derby winner. “He handled it good, did everything right. He relaxed, jogged back by the crowd, looked at the grandstand … I’m confident.”
Now it’s on to the real challenge: Win the $1 million Preakness Stakes today, then attempt to become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978 by capturing the Belmont Stakes in three weeks.
There sure seems to be a sense of victory in the air – at least from the Street Sense camp.
“If we get by this one,” said the colt’s jockey, Calvin Borel, “I think we can win the next one.”
Even James Tafel, the colt’s 83-year-old owner, has Triple on his mind.
“It’s almost beyond description,” he said earlier this week. “It’s the aspiration of every horseman.”
Street Sense arrived at Pimlico on Wednesday, following his 2 1/4-length victory in the Derby.
Two weeks later, Street Sense seems to be fresher. And why not, after just three races since his record-setting, 10-length win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile back on Nov. 4?
“Right now, I don’t think he can get beat,” Borel said. “As good as he’s doing, I’m positive he’d have to fall or have something happen bad for him to get beat.”
Street Sense is the 7-5 morning-line favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds. Three other Derby horses are back for another shot – runner-up Hard Spun, third-place finisher Curlin and Circular Quay, who was sixth.
Todd Pletcher, looking to end a 0-for-26 streak in Triple Crown races, will try with a pair of colts – Circular Quay and King of the Roxy, who finished second in the Santa Anita Derby but skipped the Louisville Derby.
D. Wayne Lukas and Nick Zito, Hall of Fame trainers without Derby starters this year, return to the Triple Crown trail with a pair of 20-1 long shots: Lukas with Derby Trial winner Flying First Class; Zito with Withers Stakes runner-up C P West. Mint Slewlep and Xchanger complete the field.
Street Sense could be the next star the sport is seeking. He’s versatile – can sit off the early leaders or drop back and make an electrifying closing move. Either way, Borel said Street Sense seems to know where to be.
“He’s the kind of horse who makes his own trip,” Borel said. “If the speed’s hot, we’ll be way back. If it’s not, he’ll put me in the game.”
Lukas says if Street Sense gets past the Preakness, he’ll have a strong shot at becoming the 12th Triple Crown champ.
“I think he fits the Belmont a little bit better,” Lukas said. “He’s obviously not going to have a distance limitation. He’s got that stalking position and he’s got that extremely good turn of foot and acceleration. I think you need that. If he gets by this one, we’re going to anoint him.”