Curlin denies Street Sense at Preakness

Curlin, the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, won a tight stretch duel with Derby champion Street Sense to win the 132nd Preakness Stakes. Hard Spun was a well-beaten third.

After Curlin’s win by a head over Street Sense in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, Street Sense’s trainer Carl Nafzger laments on his colt’s lost chance at being the first Breeder’s Cup Juvenile and Triple Crown winner.

"My horse ran great. I got outran. That’s horse racing. If you can’t enjoy watching a $5,000 claimer give you 110 percent, you shouldn’t be in the horse business." He went on to say, "Maybe he gave me 105. But Curlin (gave) 110. You have to enjoy watching Curlin run."

For a brief while, it looked like Street Sense might just win. Jockey Calvin Borel opened a small lead near the end of the race, but that lead didn’t stop Curlin from making one final kick to win the race.

"Curlin’s going to get better as he gets experience," Nafzger said. "It’s going to be interesting to see what happens down the road. I think we’ve got a great challenge going." He finished by saying that while Curlin ran a heck of a race, Street Sense will prevail in the next meeting of the two horses.

For now, it looks as if it could be a while before fans get to see another race pitting Street Sense, Curlin and Hard Spun against one another. Hard Spun is the only one of the three who looks to be heading to the final jewel of the Triple Crown, the upcoming Belmont Stakes.

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