NEWS
Street Sense edges Any Given Saturday in thrilling Tampa Bay Derby finish
Posted: Saturday, March 17, 2007 8:07 PM
STREET SENSE (inside)
Photo by Z
by Ron Parker
James B. Tafel’s 2006 champion two-year-old male Street Sense nipped 7-to-10 favorite Any Given Saturday by a nose after a prolonged stretch duel on Saturday in the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
In his first start since a ten-length victory in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on November 4 at Churchill Downs, the Street Cry (Ire) colt was presented with a clear opening on the rail and stormed to the lead turning for home.
Street Sense was fully extended to hold off the closing charge of Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Any Given Saturday and established a new track record by completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.11 in his return from a 133-day layoff for trainer Carl Nafzger.
"We hadn’t run since early November, and we've had a long layoff," Tafel said. "He's been training like a bear. [Any Given Saturday] ran a big race. He's a contender. The Daily Racing Form had Street Sense on the cover and it said,'The Champ is Back'- and the champ is back!"
The Tampa Bay Derby was expected to be a showdown between the two highly regarded Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) hopefuls and the race more than lived up to its billing. 
Street Sense and Any Given Saturday bided their time in the early stages of the race as All I Can Get set the early fractions while pressed by Most Distinguished. Any Given Saturday was in perfect striking position in third with Street Sense tracking him after settling in fourth under jockey Calvin Borel.
Any Given Saturday launched his drive entering the turn, but jockey John Velazquez was forced wide of the front-runners and lost valuable ground. Borel found the shorter way home under Street Sense when a clear path opened along the rail.
Street Sense quickly took command but Any Given Saturday displayed determination and slowly but steadily narrowed the advantage. The pair dueled through the final furlong on even terms in, perhaps, the most exciting finish yet on this year’s Triple Crown trail.
Street Sense narrowly held off Any Given Saturday as the pair crossed the line 6 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Delightful Kiss. Street Sense’s winning time broke the previous mark of 1:43.13 set on February 11, 2006, by Cherokee Prince.
“He's been off for so long, 4 1/2 months," Borel said. "We had to start somewhere and this seemed like the best place to start. Believe you me, he's 20 lengths better than he ran today.”
Out of the Dixieland Band mare Bedazzle, Street Sense increased his earnings to $1,358,200 with three wins from six starts.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
For an Equibase chart, click here.
