Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense will be one of the betting favorites for the Breeders Cup Classic on Saturday, October 27th at Monmouth Park. In addition to winning the Kentucky Derby, Street Sense also won the Jim Dandy and the Travers.
He finished second to Hard Spun in his final prep race for the Breeders Cup Classic, the Kentucky Cup Classic. Street Sense comes into the Breeders Cup Classic off a 2nd place finish in the Kentucky Cup Classic although it was only a prep race. Street Sense had every chance to compete for a Triple Crown this year and if not for a poor choice from Calvin Borel in the Preakness may have won.
History is against Street Sense a bit in the Breeders Cup Classic. Only Sunday Silence and Unbridled have won the Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup Classic in the same year. What may help Street Sense is that he is coming off a 2nd place finish that may set him up well for the Breeders Cup Classic. His stretch drive win in the Travers Stakes against Grasshopper also may prove important. Jockey Calvin Borel does not believe the Kentucky Cup Classic loss to Hard Spun hurt Street Sense in preparing for the Breeders Cup Classic. "You can’t go that slow and catch a horse like that," Borel said, "Don’t worry, my horse will show up in four weeks. He always struggles a little bit on Polytrack, but that sets him up perfectly. I ain’t worried about it. In four weeks (Breeders Cup Classic), he’ll be a different horse."
Probable Betting Odds: 3-1
Trainer: Carl Nafzger
Jockey: Calvin Borel
Dosage Index 2.14
2007 Record: Four wins, three 2nd place finishes and no 3rd place finishes. (7-4-3-0)
2007 Key Races:
1st in Kentucky Derby – Street Sense rallied from the back to win by over two lengths over Hard Spun.
2nd in Preakness Stakes – Street Sense had the race won but Borel did not push him and he let Curlin get by him at the wire.
1st in Travers – Street Sense dueled with Grasshopper in 95 degree heat and came away with the close victory.
1st in Jim Dandy – Street Sense didn’t have much trouble beating five other horses including C P West.