A Rule and a Jinx Broken
– Just as Barbaro smashed the rule against layoffs longer than four weeks when he won last year’s Kentucky Derby, this year’s Derby victor Street Sense (DRF) proved that a horse can win off two preps and that the so-called Juvenile Jinx was just a silly superstition. Jockey Calvin Borel gave Street Sense the same rail ride the two enjoyed in last year’s Breeders’ Cup, let the colt settle into 19th down the backstretch, and then started picking off horses impressively as the field came into the stretch, passing pacesetter and eventual second-place finisher Hard Spun easily (chart). Final time was 2:02.17 and Street Sense earned a new career-best Beyer of 110 for the race.
– Most Derby winners get some rest and a walk the day after, but Carl Nafzger sent Street Sense out for a one-mile jog this morning. “I just think it’s good for him and keeps him healthy,” said Nafzger (Blood-Horse).
– Todd Pletcher is now 0-for-19 in the Derby and the biggest disappointment of his five starters — to me, at least — was Florida Derby winner Scat Daddy, who finished a miserable 18th. “[Jockey Edgar Prado] said he was spinning his wheels down the backside and he didn’t feel like he handled the track very well,” said Pletcher (NY Times). The extra furlong probably didn’t help the son of Johannesburg either.
