Street Sense motored home from 19th in the 20-horse field to win the Kentucky Derby by 2 1/4 lengths. It was the first Derby win for rider Calvin Borel, 40, and the second for trainer Carl Nafziger (he won with Unbridled in 1990), who trains the homebred Street Cry colt for James Tafel, 83. Hard Spun, who jumped to the lead to set a fast pace from the gate, stayed for second.

“I really don’t know how good he is,” said Borel, who held Street Sense back, along the rail, before making his move in the far turn. “I felt like I had a bomb under me. He’s totally push button. He’ll do what I ask.”

Street Sense is the first winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to score a Kentucky Derby victory and the first 2-year-old champion to claim the race since Spectacular Bid, in 1979. The $1.45 million win, the fourth of his career, boosted the colt’s earnings to nearly $3 million.

Steet Sense paid $11.80 for the win. Curlin, the slight second favorite, finished third in his first defeat from four starts. Scat Daddy, the third favorite and one of trainer Todd Pletcher’s five entries, finished 18th.

“For whatever reason, no one really fired their ‘A’ race,” said Pletcher, who sent out Bluegrass Cat to finish second in last year’s Run for the Roses.